Abuse Quote by Jenny Ann Ryberg
““Whatever proponents of false memory syndrome may claim and however persuasively they tell their stories and anecdotes, dissociative amnesia typically involves fragmented recall of trauma and is rather a retrieval inhibition than a forgetting (Spiegel et al., 2011). It may also involve complete loss of recall for sexual and physical abuse but most commonly, dissociative amnesia is partial, variable, and coexists with memories of trauma (Dalenberg et al., 2014). Studies addressing the accuracy of recovered abuse memories show that these memories are no less accurate than continuous memories for abuse (Scheflin & Brown, 1996). Memory is reconsolidated each time it is accessed and therefore potentially distorted (Bridge & Paller, 2012). Evidently, this does not disprove the possibility that some clinicians are too suggestive, one way or another, pushing their patients to adopt views that serve to confirm the therapist’s own perspective and beliefs.””
About This Quote
False memory syndrome claims are contested; dissociative amnesia involves fragmented trauma recall, not forgetting, and may be influenced by therapist suggestion
In simple terms: Memory can be fragmented and suggestible, not just forgotten
Question the reliability of recovered memories
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- legal testimony
- research studies
- patient counseling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure memory accuracy?
- What safeguards protect against suggestion?
Therapist influence may bias memory reconstruction