False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 17 No 04 - 2008 fall

Magazine Overview

Title: FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

Issue: Vol. 17 No. 4

Date: Fall 2008

Publisher: False Memory Syndrome Foundation

Country: USA

Language: English

ISSN: 1070-1315

Cover Headline: The newsletter's opening editorial expresses the ongoing nature of the "memory wars" in courts and media, noting that despite the end of 2008 approaching, there is still significant news for the FMSF Newsletter. It highlights examples of these battles in courts, popular media, and professional activities.

Key Articles and Content

"Eye Beam Energy" Claim Debunked

The newsletter reports on psychiatrist Colin Ross's claim to send a beam of energy from his eyes to make a computer sound, a claim tested by the James Randi Foundation. The test, conducted with the help of Yale University faculty member Steven Novella, revealed that the sound was triggered by Ross's eye blinking, an artifact of Electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes. Novella noted that Ross made a "fairly shoddy connection between cause and effect" and suggested that a simple barrier test would have revealed the true cause. The article mentions Ross's history of promoting recovered memories and multiple personality disorder, and lawsuits brought by former patients alleging false memories.

The "Memory Wars" Continue in Legal and Educational Arenas

The editorial highlights that the "memory wars" persist, with legal cases and professional activities keeping the issue alive. It points out that the law has yet to definitively determine the scientific validity of repressed memory theory. The newsletter discusses how accusations of recovered memories of abuse continue to surface in legal proceedings, sometimes under other charges.

British Report on Memory and the Law

A report from the British Psychological Society (BPS) released in July 2008 provides guidelines on memory and the law, based on recent scientific advances. Chaired by memory researcher Martin Conway, the 35-page report aims to provide legal professionals with a rigorous understanding of memory. It focuses on how witness memories can be flawed and argues for the use of experts in trials to avoid wrongful convictions. The report clarifies what constitutes expertise in memory, stating that membership in professional societies or teaching courses does not automatically qualify someone as an expert.

Children's Memory Development

The report also touches upon children's memory development, noting that the period from birth to five years is characterized by rapid neurological development. It explains that children younger than five may lack concepts like "embarrassment" and thus cannot have original memories containing such features, although they might be added later in adulthood.

The "Misery Memoir" Phenomenon

The newsletter mentions the rise of "misery memoirs," books detailing stories of abuse, alcoholism, and trauma, which account for a significant percentage of book sales in England. It suggests that the sheer number of such memoirs, many potentially hoaxes, over the past 15-20 years contributes to the ongoing "memory wars."

Training Gaps in Mental Health Professions

Monica Pignotti's article, discussed on page four, highlights concerns about the training of clinical social workers, who are the largest group of mental health providers. The University of Michigan School of Social Work, a highly ranked institution, offered two-day courses in "power therapies" lacking scientific foundation. A survey indicates that over 60% of clinical social work programs do not require evidence-based practice training. The article concludes that the social work profession has a long way to go in implementing evidence-based practices.

"Try to Remember: Psychiatry's Clash Over Meaning, Memory, and Mind" by Paul McHugh

This section reviews Paul R. McHugh's book, which chronicles the history of "Freudian psychiatrists" and their promotion of concepts like "multiple personality disorder" and "recovered memory." The book describes how these theories led to accusations of child sexual abuse and parents being sent to prison. McHugh, a distinguished professor at Johns Hopkins University, advocates for effective diagnosis and treatment in psychotherapy.

"Memory Conformity: What Happens When People Talk About What Happened?"

This article discusses research by French, Garry, and Mori (2008) on how collaborative remembering, especially between romantic partners, can lead to more false memories than when discussing events with strangers. The study found that participants were more likely to report false memories when they discussed events with a romantic partner, suggesting that consistency and confidence, even if based on misinformation, can sway jurors.

Elizabeth Loftus Receives Honorary Doctorate

Elizabeth Loftus, FMSF Scientific Advisor and Distinguished Professor of Social Ecology, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Oslo for her contributions to the study of memory. The event included a lecture by Dr. Loftus on "Illusions of Memory."

"Memory Book Evokes Memories of Height of the Memory Wars" by Patrick Estrade

This review discusses Patrick Estrade's book, which is described as a guide to understanding childhood memories. While acknowledging that the author sometimes presents correct information about memory, the review suggests that the book's problems outweigh its good points.

Father MacRae Case

The newsletter details the case of Rev. Gordon MacRae, a priest wrongly convicted of sexual assault based on recovered memories. The article highlights the irresponsible handling of clergy abuse reports by the Catholic Church but also points to cases where priests may have been wrongly convicted. The MacRae case involved accusations that surfaced a decade after the alleged events, and the legal proceedings were marked by issues such as a questionable letter from Florida and biased rulings by the judge.

Lamonica Found Guilty of Rape in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

This section reports on the conviction of Louis Lamonica, former pastor of the Hosanna Church, for aggravated rape against his two sons. The defense argued that Lamonica confessed due to the influence of Lois Mowbray, who allegedly controlled the church and directed the sons to write down abuse incidents. The article notes that the sons later retracted their abuse stories, but the prosecution's experts discounted these retractions. The defense's attempt to introduce expert testimony on judging the veracity of abuse allegations was disallowed by the judge.

Grandparents Obtain Confidential Medical Records

Josephine and Lucian C. Parlato successfully obtained a court order compelling a psychiatrist and a social worker to turn over medical records related to their daughter, Jodi M. Gburek. The Parlatos allege that the records prove the fabricated nature of childhood sexual abuse claims used to prevent them from seeing their grandson, Shane. The case has involved libel actions and ongoing legal battles.

False Confessions

An article by S.M. Kassin (2008) discusses false confessions, noting that 20-25% of DNA exonerations involve people who confessed to crimes they did not commit. It explores reasons for false confessions, including a pathological need for attention or self-punishment, and highlights the vulnerability of certain individuals. Kassin suggests increased use of expert witnesses to educate judges and juries, and mandatory videotaping of interrogations.

"What's Wrong with Believing in Repression?" by Piper, Lillevik, & Kritzer

This paper reviews the scientific evidence regarding repressed and recovered memory, concluding that science does not support the theory. It notes that courts have sometimes given "credence to pseudoscience" in decisions accepting repressed memory. The paper outlines five key points: the lack of general acceptance in the psychological community, flaws in supporting studies, accumulated evidence against repression, weak support from high-quality studies, and no evidence that recovered memories accurately reflect past events.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMSF Newsletter consistently advocates for a scientific approach to memory and mental health. The recurring themes include the critique of recovered memory theory, the prevalence of false memories and confessions, the importance of evidence-based practices in psychotherapy, and the need for rigorous scientific evaluation in legal proceedings. The editorial stance is clearly against the unscientific claims and practices associated with the recovered memory movement, emphasizing the potential for harm to individuals and the justice system. The newsletter aims to educate professionals, legal practitioners, and the public about the scientific understanding of memory and to counter what it views as misinformation and pseudoscience in the field.

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue Date: Fall 2008 (Vol. 17 No. 4)
Publisher: FMS Foundation
Focus: The newsletter primarily addresses issues related to false memories, recovered memories, and the unreliability of memory in various contexts, including legal and personal.

Seeing What Is Not There: Memory Alone Is Not Reliable Enough to Form Basis of Legal Decisions

This article, based on a talk by psychologist James Ost at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival, highlights research demonstrating the fallibility of human memory. Ost studied 300 individuals' recollections of the July 2005 London bombings. His findings revealed that 40% of participants claimed to have seen the bus explode on television, despite the fact that no such footage ever existed. Ost's research suggests that people who are more fantasy-prone and creative are more susceptible to developing false memories. He draws a parallel to previous research showing that some people reported seeing video footage of Princess Diana's car crash, even though no such footage existed. Ost concludes that memory is not a perfect videotape and cannot be solely relied upon for legal decisions, as some individuals can be easily fooled into believing they witnessed events they did not.

Does a Fraudulent Memoir Toll the Statute of Limitations in Massachusetts?

This section details the case of Misha Defonseca, who confessed in February 2008 that her 1997 Holocaust survival memoir, "Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years," was false. Her true identity as Monique De Wael was uncovered by a genealogical researcher who found her baptismal certificate and school documents that contradicted the memoir's claims. Despite the memoir straining credulity, it was not proven false until recently. Defonseca's story, which claimed she survived the Holocaust as a child by living with wolves and killing a German soldier, sold 5,000 copies in the US but was translated into 18 languages and became a bestseller in Europe. In 2001, Defonseca and her ghostwriter won a $10.8 million jury award against her publisher, which was later tripled to $32.4 million due to the publisher's alleged failure to promote the book and hidden profits. The authors later settled for less. The publisher attempted to have the verdict overturned, arguing the statute of limitations should not apply, but a Massachusetts judge had yet to rule on the motion.

Misery Memoirs and False Memories

The article discusses the literary genre of "misery memoirs" or "mis lit," which has seen a surge in popularity, particularly in Britain, where 11 of the top 100 bestselling paperbacks in 2006 were memoirs about surviving abuse. These memoirs often detail shocking stories of abuse, alcoholism, and trauma. However, the genre has faced scrutiny due to the increasing number of fraudulent memoirs. The article mentions satirical responses, such as a fictional "James Frey Misery Memoir Award," and an "Erewhon Publishing" memo requiring memoirists to provide evidence of their dysfunction. The popularity of these memoirs is attributed to the message of "triumph over tragedy" and their ability to provide perspective on readers' own lives. Conversely, some critics find the genre to be an "unsavory side" that caters to morbid curiosity and moral outrage. The phenomenon is linked to the recovered memory movement, where many individuals wrote memoirs about alleged childhood abuse, often self-published. The article notes that readers' strong response to these stories suggests a belief that such harrowing accounts must be real.

Reader Contributions

I Waited A Long Time

This personal account describes a family's slow progress towards reconciliation after a 16-year estrangement. The author's oldest daughter, who had sent "the letter" 16 years prior, had moved away and, after ending her marriage, sought to rejoin the family with conditions, notably not referring to past accusations. While her sisters knew the accusations were false, they had different relationships with the accuser. The youngest daughter intercepted letters, while the middle daughter maintained contact and provided support to the oldest daughter. The author agreed to meet her oldest daughter, which was facilitated by her middle daughter's encouragement. The author purchased a book on recovered memory debates to help her daughter understand the situation, but it was rejected. The visit, though awkward, went well. Subsequent meetings occurred without the husband, who was not ready to reconcile. However, a phone call between the oldest daughter and her father led to a decision to visit. The author's husband agreed, with the condition of no hugs. The meeting went well, with the daughter expressing love and forgiveness, and the father reciprocating. The author acknowledges that this is not a "happily ever after" ending, noting that her daughter may have bipolar disorder and still insists her father "admit" his guilt. The family has learned not to be consumed by grief and focuses on living in the present.

Hungry for Monsters

This section advertises a limited VHS supply of the documentary "Hungry for Monsters" available through the FMSF for $15.00. The documentary is described as an account of a family's experience with memory-focused psychotherapy, the cultivation of memories, and accusations of sexual abuse, serving as a resource for understanding how individuals can come to believe in abuse that never happened and its consequences.

Websites of Interest and Legal Websites of Interest

A comprehensive list of websites related to false memory, Satanic Panics, memory research, and legal resources is provided, including links to prominent researchers like Elizabeth Loftus and organizations such as the Illinois FMS Society and the British False Memory Society.

The Rutherford Family Speaks to FMS Families

This section promotes a DVD by the Rutherford family, which details their story of accusation, retraction, and reconciliation. It highlights Beth Rutherford's comments on her family's process of retracting their claims.

Upcoming Publication

"Try to Remember: Psychiatry's Clash Over Meaning, Memory, and Mind" by Paul McHugh, M.D., is announced as coming in November 2008.

Recommended Books

Several books are recommended, including "Remembering Trauma" by Richard McNally, "Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology" edited by Lilienfeld, Lynn, and Lohr, and "Psychology Astray: Fallacies in Studies of 'Repressed Memory' and Childhood Trauma" by Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D.

Bulletin Board

The bulletin board lists contacts and meeting information for FMS Foundation chapters across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Australia, Belgium, France, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It also provides deadlines for submitting meeting notices and information for the WINTER 2009 issue.

FMSF Information

This section provides contact information for the FMS Foundation, including its address, phone, fax, and website. It also includes details about the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, listing numerous professionals in psychology, psychiatry, and related fields. A list of advisors who are now deceased is also included. The section encourages readers to send a message to [email protected] to receive electronic versions of the newsletter and broadcast notices. It clarifies that the Foundation has no affiliates and that no other organization or person is authorized to speak for it without prior written approval. Information on how to contribute to the Foundation is also provided, with options for Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or check/money order.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unreliability of memory, the prevalence and impact of fraudulent memoirs (particularly "misery memoirs"), and the ongoing work of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation in educating the public and providing resources. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical examination of memory claims, support for individuals affected by false memory phenomena, and a commitment to disseminating research and information on the topic. The newsletter actively promotes resources such as documentaries, books, and websites that align with its focus on memory and its potential distortions.