False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 11 No 06 - 2002 novdec

Magazine Overview

This issue of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF) Newsletter, dated November/December 2002, Vol. 11 No. 6, focuses on the ongoing discourse surrounding recovered memories, child abuse allegations, and the psychological and legal implications.

Key Themes and Articles

The Concept Battle and Clinical War

Dr. Paul McHugh, in his keynote address to over 250 people at an October reconciliation conference, declared that the "concept battle" regarding false memories has been won, but the "clinical war" is not yet over. He highlighted the accomplishments and lessons learned about false memories over the past decade, emphasizing the FMSF's role in bringing focus to reconciliation. The conference featured stimulating presentations, including a "retractor panel," and noted the significant number of first-time attendees, indicating a continued need for the Foundation's involvement.

Ritual Abuse Workshops

Philip Kaushall, Ph.D., reports on two workshops held at the "International Conference on Family Violence" in San Diego. Presenters like Deborah Parker, Jeanne Adams, Anne Hart, and Dr. Ellen Lachter discussed experiences and research related to "ritual abuse." These accounts included graphic details of alleged abuse, dissociation as a defense mechanism, and the psychological and legal evidence supporting the existence of ritualistic abuse. Dr. Lachter's thesis was that the existence of ritualistic abuse is not in dispute, citing substantial evidence and a survey of psychologists indicating belief in such cases. However, the article also notes the skeptical stance of the FMSF towards such claims, which Dr. Lachter suggests contributes to the secrecy surrounding the issue.

Sound Familiar? The Critique of Therapeutic Approaches

This section critiques therapeutic approaches, drawing parallels between the treatment of adult survivors of sexual abuse and "critical incident stress debriefing" (CISD) for victims of traumatic events like the September 11th World Trade Towers disaster. The author argues that the profession has failed in its leadership by not basing therapy on evidence of effectiveness and safety, likening some approaches to a "pyramid scheme" or "cult."

Demand Characteristics in Psychology

A special journal issue of "Prevention & Treatment" is highlighted, focusing on Martin Orne's concept of "demand characteristics." This concept explains how social-motivational factors and implicit expectations influence research participants' behavior, potentially affecting the interpretation of findings and therapeutic outcomes. The journal includes commentaries examining its role in clinical practice, psychotherapy, and the development of false belief systems.

Research on Memory and Trauma

Several research articles are summarized:

• "Smaller Hippocampal Volume Predicts Pathologic Vulnerability to Psychological Trauma" by Gilbertson et al. suggests that a smaller hippocampus may be inherited and increases vulnerability to PTSD, rather than being solely caused by trauma.
• "Sources of Bias in Memory for Emotions" by Levine & Safer reviews literature indicating that explicit memory for emotions is reconstructed based on current feelings, current appraisals can bias recall, and personality traits like anxiety can influence emotional recall.
• "Fuzzy-Trace Theory and False Memory" by Brainerd & Reyna argues that this theory can account for the diversity of false memory phenomena, with "gist" retrieval supporting false memory.
• "Breaking the Barrier? Children Fail to Translate Their Preverbal Memories into Language" by Simcock & Hayne shows that children describe early memories using only the vocabulary they knew at the time, suggesting memories are "frozen in time."

Legal Cases and Allegations

The newsletter reports on several legal cases and issues related to false allegations:

• Candace Newmaker Resolution: A resolution urging a ban on "rebirthing therapy" is discussed, following the death of Candace Newmaker during such a session. Psychotherapists involved are serving prison terms.
• Allegations of Abuse: The Need for Responsible Practice by Mary Pillai highlights that investigations into families facing false abuse allegations often show disastrous outcomes, with substantial evidence proving the allegations false. The report notes a "culture of support and empathy" for accusers and high defense costs.
• Tennessee Psychologist Gives Up His License: Michael O. Buckner surrendered his license due to ethical violations, including "gross malpractice" and "exploitative relationships," stemming from accusations of using regression therapy to have sex with female patients.
• Dorsey v Chapman: This case involved a conviction based on the testimony of alternate personalities, with the defense arguing that not all alters were called to testify.
• Tom Wright Case: Charges against Tom Wright in Maine, related to his wife's recovered memories from pastoral counseling, were dropped.

Personal Accounts and Letters

• Laura Pasley's Letter: A heartfelt letter from Laura Pasley expresses gratitude to the FMSF community for their support and love, particularly in relation to her family and her "accused child molester" nephews. She reflects on the pain caused by "Recovered Memory Therapy" and the destruction of family units.
• "From Our Readers" Section: This section includes letters from individuals sharing their experiences:
• A reader discusses the impact of "The Courage to Heal" and the FMSF's role in their daughter's situation.
• A father shares his surprise at finding a "false memories" chapter in his daughter's introductory psychology course.
• A "Mom" writes about being wrongly accused of sexual molesting her daughter, crediting the FMSF and its resources for helping her through a "nightmarish time."
• A reader provides an update on the Tom Wright case in Maine, noting the dropping of charges.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMSF Newsletter consistently adopts a critical stance towards "recovered memory" therapy and the broader "false memory" phenomenon. Recurring themes include the potential for suggestibility and therapist influence to create or distort memories, the devastating impact of false allegations on individuals and families, and the perceived lack of scientific rigor and objective evidence in certain therapeutic and legal contexts. The newsletter advocates for a more evidence-based approach to psychological issues, emphasizing the importance of corroboration and critical evaluation of claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of caution and skepticism towards therapies that rely heavily on the uncovering of repressed memories without external validation, while supporting efforts towards reconciliation and the education of the public and professionals on the complexities of memory.

The FMS Foundation Newsletter, Volume 11, Number 6, published in November/December 2002, is a 15-page issue from the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. The newsletter focuses on issues related to false memories, recovered memories, trauma, and their intersection with the legal system, particularly in the context of child sexual abuse accusations. The cover prominently features the announcement of a one-day seminar titled "Trauma, Memory, and the Law: Accusations of Child Sexual Abuse."

Corrections and Clarifications

The issue begins with two letters providing corrections and clarifications. Frank Kane notes a statement in the September/October issue regarding the ISSMP&D dropping 'multiple personality' from its name to become ISSD. Peter M. Barach, Ph.D., a former ISSD Board of Directors member, clarifies that there was no causal link between questions about the "genesis of multiple personality" and the name change. He explains the change was due to the DSM-IV's reclassification of Multiple Personality Disorder and the society's broader focus on dissociation.

Sherrill Mulherm, Ph.D., from the Laboratoire des Rumeurs, des Mythes du Futur, et des Sectes, addresses another statement, questioning the claim that the term "repression" was dropped due to a lack of scientific evidence. Mulherm asserts that "repression" was never used in the DSM III diagnosis of MPD, which drew on Pierre Janet's work, not Sigmund Freud's. While acknowledging that one can opine on the lack of evidence for repression or dissociation, Mulherm states that this does not mean the terms refer to the same concept.

Recovered-Memory Therapist: Definition

A stark definition of a "Recovered-Memory Therapist" is provided, labeling them as predators who exploit vulnerable clients for personal gain, abuse confidentiality, and inflict trauma. The definition equates such therapists to thieves, charlatans, and criminals.

Recovered Memory Therapy Narrative

A personal narrative titled "Recovered Memory Therapy" by 'Mary' details a journey through therapy. The narrative describes initial hope and trust in a therapist, followed by distressing experiences including hypnosis, nightmares, and exploding memories that felt real but were later revealed as "memories that never happened." The narrator recounts feelings of going crazy, betrayal by family members, and suicidal ideation. The narrative culminates in a realization that the therapist lied, leading to a process of healing, the return of sanity, and the rejection of false memories. The narrator expresses shame and a desire to live, bearing witness to the truth of being deceived.

Baylor University Seminar

Details are provided for a one-day seminar titled "Trauma, Memory, and the Law: Accusations of Child Sexual Abuse," held on December 13, 2002, at Baylor University. The seminar offered Continuing Education credits for psychologists, social workers, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel. Key speakers and topics included:

• Welcome and Introduction: Psychology and Science by Charles A. Weaver III, Ph.D.
• Second Thoughts: Understanding the False Memory Crisis by Paul Simpson Ed.D., covering the myth of repressed memory, false memory syndrome, regressionism, satanic panic, and the language of science.
• Children, Suggestibility, and Autobiographical Memory by Terence W. Campbell, Ph.D., discussing cognitive and biological variables influencing child reports, source amnesia, and interviewing techniques.
• The Roles of the Legal System and Experts by Jack Quattrocchi, Esq., addressing prosecution, the significance of Daubert and Frye, and the role of experts in the courtroom.
• A Panel Discussion: Questions and Answers concluded the seminar.

Contact information for the seminar organizers, Kathy Begert and David Rudd, is provided.

Web Sites of Interest

A list of websites related to false memory syndrome, recovered memories, and related topics is included, such as the Lampinen Lab False Memory Reading Group, The Memory Debate Archives, StopBadTherapy.com, and various international FMS groups.

Legal Websites of Interest

Several legal websites are also listed, including caseassist.com, findlaw.com, and legalengine.com.

Bulletin Board

The "BULLETINBOARD" section lists contacts and meeting information for FMS Foundation chapters across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Australia, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It also includes a deadline for submitting meeting notices for the next newsletter.

FMS Foundation Information and Contribution

Pages 5 and 6 provide copyright information, contact details for the FMS Foundation (address, phone, fax, email, website), and the name of the Executive Director, Pamela Freyd. It also lists the Scientific and Professional Advisory Board members. A section encourages contributions to the Foundation, providing options for payment via Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or check/money order. It also offers the option to receive electronic versions of the newsletter and FMS-News by sending an email request.

Conference Video Order Form

Page 2 contains a "National Conference Video Order Form" for the October 5 & 6, 2002 conference. It lists available video tapes of sessions, including welcome remarks, panels, and presentations by various speakers like Paul R. McHugh, M.D., Herzl R. Spiro, M.D., Ph.D., and Harold I. Lief, M.D. Prices for VHS tapes ($12 each) and DVD discs ($25 each) are listed, along with instructions for ordering.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are false memory, recovered memory therapy, child sexual abuse accusations, and the legal implications thereof. The FMS Foundation appears to maintain a critical stance towards recovered memory therapy, as evidenced by the harsh definition of a "Recovered-Memory Therapist" and the personal narrative detailing the negative experiences with such therapy. The newsletter also emphasizes the importance of scientific evidence and accurate terminology in psychological and legal contexts, as shown in the corrections provided by Barach and Mulherm. The foundation actively promotes its own research and resources, offering newsletters, pamphlets, and conference videos to educate the public and professionals on these complex issues.