False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 16 No 04 - 2007 fall

Magazine Overview

This issue of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF) Newsletter, dated Fall 2007 (Vol. 16 No. 4), focuses on the ongoing enrichment of understanding regarding false memories, memory and emotion, and the relationship between them. It highlights new books and research in the field, while also lamenting that much of this material remains unread by the public and even by professionals in influential positions.

Books and Papers Reviewed

The newsletter features reviews of several key publications:

• Mistakes Were Made (but not by me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson is praised for its entertaining explanation of cognitive dissonance and its application to the recovered memory phenomenon. The book is noted for helping readers understand self-justification to move beyond it.
• Seduced by Madness: The True Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case by Carol Pogash is described as a page-turning story about a family destroyed by uncritical acceptance of beliefs in satanic ritual abuse and recovered memories. The book provides a perspective missing in sensational trial reports.
• The Fate of Early Memories by Mark Howe, Ph.D. and Myths of Childhood by Joel Paris, M.D. are discussed together. Both books conclude that there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that early traumatic experiences necessarily have a powerful influence on adult lives. They offer comprehensive reviews of research on children and challenge deeply held cultural beliefs about personality formation, mental disorders, and the efficacy of psychotherapy based on reconstructing childhood experiences.

Several recent papers are also mentioned:

• A paper by Simona Ghetti, Ph.D. and colleagues explored subjective forgetting in relation to child trauma, finding that if child sexual abuse was forgotten in childhood, it was likely recovered in childhood, not later in adulthood, and found no evidence of adult recovery of such memories.
• Contradictory results from papers by Depue and colleagues and Payne and Corrigan are highlighted. The Payne paper suggests strong emotion makes intentional forgetting difficult, while the Depue paper suggests it is possible.

University Counseling Services and Misinformation

A significant portion of the newsletter addresses concerns about misleading information found on university counseling service websites. The FMSF calls on readers to check the counseling service websites of their alma maters or nearby universities to identify and report irresponsible information. The Carnegie Mellon University's Counseling and Psychological Services site is cited for advising students to trust memories of sexual violation, even if they seem too awful to be true, and to consider symptoms from 'The Courage to Heal' by Bass and Davis (1988). The newsletter points out that the American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association issued warnings in 1994 that symptom lists are not reliable indicators of abuse.

Research on Memory Suppression and Forgetting

• 'Can We Forget Bad Memories?' discusses research by Depue et al. (2007) on prefrontal regions orchestrating suppression of emotional memories. The article clarifies that this research does not support the idea of forgetting traumatic memories, as often claimed in media reports. It distinguishes between suppression (actively trying not to think about something) and repression (unconsciously blocking out a memory), arguing that the latter is a 'clinical myth.' The research actually supports the conclusion that survivors of trauma generally have difficulty forgetting their experiences.
• 'New Research Adds to the Evidence for Caution in Use of Anatomical Dolls with Young Children' discusses studies indicating that anatomically detailed dolls may lead to inaccurate reports and false memories in young children, suggesting caution in their use.
• 'Emotional Memories Persist' by Payne and Corrigan (2007) found that participants could only forget neutral memories, not pleasant or unpleasant emotional ones, adding to evidence that emotion limits the mind's ability to control its contents.

Legal Cases and Precedents

The newsletter examines several legal cases related to memory and accusations:

• Canadian Supreme Court Hands Carte Blanche to Social Workers: An article by Adriaan J.W. Mak discusses a Supreme Court of Canada decision that treatment centers and social workers owe no duty of care to the families of children in their care, emphasizing the priority of the child's best interest. The article notes the omission of critical researchers' names in the court decision's literature cited.
• Charges Dropped (Rhode Island): A case where a woman accused a man of rape based on a repressed memory from 32 years prior resulted in the man's indictment but subsequent dismissal due to the unreliability of repressed memory testimony in Rhode Island.
• Nebraska Court Rules Star Witness May Not Testify: In the case of State v. Donald J. Sykora, a judge ruled that a witness's testimony based on memories of a 1971 murder could not be used, as her memory had been enhanced by a 30-hour cognitive interview, which was deemed unscientific and potentially producing false memories.

Other Content

The issue also includes a "Legal Corner" section, a "Bulletin Board," and notes on upcoming newsletters. The FMSF expresses gratitude for reader support and looks forward to their investigations into university counseling services.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMSF Newsletter consistently advocates for a critical, evidence-based approach to memory, particularly in the context of recovered memories and child abuse allegations. The editorial stance emphasizes the scientific understanding of memory, highlighting the limitations of subjective reports and the unreliability of repressed memory claims in legal contexts. There is a strong critique of misinformation, especially from professional bodies or institutions that appear to be out of step with current scientific consensus. The foundation actively encourages readers to contribute to its efforts to correct such misinformation and to promote a more accurate understanding of memory science. The newsletter also champions the importance of distinguishing between scientifically supported findings and speculative or unverified theories, particularly when they have significant societal and legal implications.

The FMS Foundation Newsletter, Fall 2007, Volume 16, Number 4, is a publication from the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF). The issue features personal accounts, legal updates, and research related to false memories and the impact of certain therapeutic practices.

Key Articles and Features

"Wrong Event?"

This section contains personal narratives from readers. One account details a family's experience where iatrogenic counseling, initiated by a "Christian" therapist, led to a daughter developing false memories of satanic ritual abuse. The daughter became estranged from her family for nearly 10 years. The narrative describes the slow process of reconciliation and the lingering effects of the therapy. The author expresses a desire to expose charlatans practicing harmful therapy.

Another personal account, "Is the Problem Ever Over?", describes a recurring crisis in mental health care, where accusations of abuse resurface periodically, impacting family relationships and causing significant distress. The author expresses fear of further alienation and the difficulty of moving past devastating experiences.

"Crimes Against Children Have Declined"

This section references research by Finkelhor, D. and Jones, L. (2006) published in the Journal of Social Issues, indicating a decline in various forms of child maltreatment and victimization between 1993 and 2004. The data showed significant decreases in physical abuse, homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual abuse. Substantiated cases of childhood sexual abuse declined by 49% according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. The authors of the referenced study express surprise that these epidemiological reports have received so little attention.

Elizabeth Loftus Settles Lawsuit

This supplement details the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Nicole Taus against Elizabeth Loftus, a prominent researcher in the field of memory. The lawsuit stemmed from an article published by Loftus and Mel Guyer titled "Who Abused Jane Doe? The Hazards of the Single Case History." The article critiqued a case study that claimed to prove the recovery of repressed memories of abuse.

• Key results of the case include:
• The California Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiff should pay attorney fees, with a motion for over $450,000 prepared.
• Taus lost on 20 out of 21 counts filed against Loftus and her co-defendants, protecting Loftus's right to speak on the subject.
• Based on a declaration that Loftus claims did not state the facts correctly, the California Supreme Court left a single claim alive. Loftus settled for $7,500 to avoid further harassment and a lengthy trial.

The article notes that the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Loftus, who categorically denied the allegations.

Background of Loftus Case: Court Tosses All but One Claim

This section provides further details on the Taus v. Loftus case, referencing a California Supreme Court ruling on February 26, 2007. The court tossed out three of the four issues under examination, with Justices Moreno and Baxter dissenting. The court ordered Taus to pay the costs of the Loftus appeal, stating that the majority of the plaintiff's claims should have been struck under the anti-SLAPP statute.

The complaint against Loftus, Guyer, and others included causes of action for negligent infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, fraud, and defamation. The lawsuit was characterized as a "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" (SLAPP).

The California Supreme Court reviewed whether the Court of Appeal properly concluded that four actions against Loftus should remain. These included claims of defamation, disclosure of private facts, improper intrusion into private matters by collecting court records, and misrepresentation of her relationship with Corwin.

The Court dismissed the first three actions and ordered Taus to pay Loftus's legal expenses. The remaining action, concerning the alleged misrepresentation of her relationship with Taus's former foster mother, Margie Cantrell, was ordered to be settled at the trial level.

An attorney representing the news media expressed concern that the decision might chill journalistic investigation.

Supporters of recovered memories claimed victory, while Loftus's attorney expressed satisfaction that most of the lawsuit was dismissed and that Loftus would be able to prove she did not misrepresent herself.

Other Content

• Abstracts: The newsletter includes abstracts of research papers, such as "People believe it is possible to have forgotten memories of childhood sexual abuse" by Rubin, D.C., & Berntsen, D. (2007) and findings by Pezdek, Blandon-Gitlin, & Gabbay (2006) on the plausibility of imagination inducing false memories.
• Web Sites of Interest: A comprehensive list of websites related to false memory syndrome, satanic ritual abuse, and critical perspectives on therapy is provided.
• Legal Web Sites of Interest: A list of legal resources is included.
• Rutherford Family Speaks to FMS Families: Information about a DVD produced by the Rutherford family, detailing their experience with false memory accusations, retraction, and reconciliation.
• Recommended Books: A list of recommended books, including "Remembering Trauma" by Richard McNally and "Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology" (eds. Lilienfeld, Lynn, & Lohr).
• Bulletin Board: Contact information for FMS Foundation meetings and contacts across the United States and internationally.
• FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board: A list of the board members as of October 1, 2007.
• Contribution Information: Details on how to contribute to the FMS Foundation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a critical stance towards certain therapeutic practices, particularly those that may lead to the creation of false memories, often referred to as "iatrogenic" or "bad therapy." The FMS Foundation advocates for a skeptical approach to claims of repressed memories of abuse, especially when they emerge years later, and highlights the potential for such memories to be implanted or distorted. The legal battles involving Elizabeth Loftus are presented as significant victories for free speech and the rights of researchers and journalists to investigate controversial topics. The publication emphasizes the importance of evidence-based research and warns against the dangers of unsubstantiated therapeutic claims that can lead to family alienation and legal disputes. The overall stance is one of caution regarding recovered memory therapy and support for individuals and families affected by what they perceive as false accusations stemming from such therapies.