False Memory Syndrome Foundation Vol 11 No 06 2002 novdec

16 Pages·2002·0.67 MB·English

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NEWSLETTER
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6
Dear Friends. new scientific articles provide further evidence about
human suggestibility and the fact that you can't reach back
"We have won the concept battle but not the clinical
to nonverbally coded memories and describe them with
war," noted Dr. Paul McHugh in his keynote address to
words; and a letter in "From Our Readers" shows how wide
more than 250 people at the October reconciliation confer
spread information about FMS has become in college texts.
ence. Dr. McHugh reminded the audience of what has been
Problems in the clinical area remain, however. The
accomplished and what has been learned about false mem
Kaushall article on page three describes two seminars on rit
ories during the past decade, and how the work of FMSF
ual abuse at a San Diego conference for therapists. The arti
professionals and families has brought us naturally to the
cle on page five about the difficulty Dr. Harold Merskey had
current focus on reconciliation.
in organizing a conference on FMS in London, Ontario
All of the presentations were stimulating and several
harks back to 1994 when Dr. Harold Lief was prevented
were also moving, especially the retractor panel. We learned
from speaking at McGill University. Some therapists still
many things at the conference such as the fact that the
use checklists to diagnose past sexual abuselll even though
Insurance Trust of the American Psychological Association
professional organizations have stated that there is no con
(it provides liability insurance for psychologists) has a pic
stellation of symptoms that is diagnostic of child sexual
ture on the first page of its brochure showing a person lec
abuse. A recent quote by a fonner president of the American
turing lit!side a screen on which is printed: "Doctor loses
Psychiatric Association shows that some therapists still
false-memory suit."
believe that they have mysterious powers for knowing the
For those who would like to see the presentations, tapes
truth, even though professional organizations have stated
are available for purchase. In the near future, the
that the only way to know the truth or falsity of a memory
StopBadTherapy website will make them available online.
is with external corroboration:
Many of us were surprised at the large number of peo
ple who were attending an FMS conference for the first "Sometimes we have to believe what the child says, or what
time. This seems to be clear evidence of the ongoing need the adult person says happened to them as a child, and we
have techniques as therapists to determine whether they are
for the Foundation to be involved in conferences. For fami
valid or invalid statements," Paul Fink. M.D.I21
lies who have attended past conferences, it was a time to
renew friendships. The laughter and happy chatter in the The following paragraph from a recent newspaper arti
hallways belied the profound grief that has weighed so long cle seems an accurate statement of the clinical situation:
on so many people who hope to find a way to reconnect "Nobody seems to have a firm handle on the riddle of
with their children. Laura Pasley's letter on page nine cap recovered memory. Experts can't even agree on just what the
tures the heartbeat of this wonderful meeting. Great thanks term "repressed memory" means. The mental health commu
are due to the Illinois-Wisconsin FMS members for their nity talks about the "memory wars," their arguments over
faultless organization of this conference.
In this Issue •••
How do we know that the concept battle has been won?
For the past several years, we have published news of the Kaushall ............................................................................3
evidence: statements from professional organizations; a Pas/ey ................................................................................ 9
body of scientific articles and books; legal precedents based From Our Readers .......................................................... 10
Corrections .................................................................... J 1
on science; prominent offenders held accountable; a dra
Conference Tapes Information .................................... 12
matic reduction in new cases; and many retractions. This
Bulleffn Board ................................................................ 14
newsletter issue contains more indications: another recov
ered memory psychologist has permanently lost his license; The next Issue will be JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003
1955 Locust Street. Philadelphia. PA 19103-5766,215-940-1040, Fox 215-940-1042. www.FMSFonllne.org
Sound Familiar?
how accurate such memories are and what techniques can
properly be used to help patients recall them. There is no "What we have here is something between a social
accepted definition of recovered memory in legal circles.
movement, a pyramid scheme and a cult." 111
There's not even a consensus over whether experts should be
Many of the counselors came from "a prolific and
allowed to testify on the validity of recovered memoriesJ31
parochial subculture" in which understanding of the com
The changes are welcome, but it is obvious that there is
plex issues of post-traumatic stress was limited to "propri·
still work to be done. To continue in its efforts the
etary workshops, trade magazines and paperback books."\21
Foundation needs your help. and so we have mailed our
annual request for your financial support. We thank you in Does this sound familiar? It could easily be a descrip
advance for your ongoing generosity. But we ask even more tion of the treatment for adult survivors of sexual abuse that
of you. Please continue your personal efforts to educate the proliferated during the first half of the 1990s, a "one-size
public, the media and professionals whenever you note that fits-all" type of approach. The comment above by psychol
there is a misunderstanding about the nature of memory. ogist Richard Gist, however, referred to the therapy given to
Don't hesitate to send us examples of misinformation and many victims of the September 11th World Trade Towers
ask us to write, too. (But please be sure to include names disaster. An evaluation of "critical incident stress debrief
and addresses.) Together, we have made a difference and ing" (CISD) was conducted to see if it prevented Post
will continue to do so. Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD ). "Critical incident stress
We wish you the very best for the holiday season. debriefing" is a one-to three hour psychological debriefing
p~ soon after a traumatic event. The results showed that PTSD
symptoms improved except when CISD was used.
l. "Common Issues of Survivors: flashbacks,intrusive memories: night
The fact that CISD therapy was evaluated is to be
mares, sleep disturbances, poor concentration: numb/spacing out, disso
ciation: anxiety. stress, hypervigilance, panic attacks; low self-esteem, applauded. Nevertheless, how did its use reach the propor
poor sense of self, guilt and self-blame; self destructive behaviors, tion of an "industry" 131 before that happened?
addictions and eating disorders; depression; difficulties with relation·
The profession failed in its leadership and responsibili
ships and sellual intimacy; social functioning, isolation. feeling of being
ty in this area just as it did with recovered memories.
different; somatic/physical symptoms (migraines, TMJ,joint pain, gas
trointestinal and/or gynecological problems)" from brochure "Healing Professionals do themselves, their colleagues and the pub
from Childhood Sellual Abuse" by Susan Hall, M.Ed., LPC in St Louis, lic a disservice by ignoring the obvious: therapy should be
MO. Received in FMSF office Winter, 2002. haJed on evidence of effectiveness and .mfery. The public
2. Fink, M.D., Paul,. quoted in Whine, B. "Psychiatrist vows to stay on deserves nothing less.
Catholic review board despite criticism," Associated Press, September I. Richard Gist quoted in Vedantam, S. "Two Studies Raise Doubts on
11, 2002. Dr. Fink is the director of the group: The Leadership Council Trauma Counseling's Value; Analyses: Debriefings Don't Help, and
for Mental Health, Justice & the Media. May Harm. Mental Health" Washington Post, September 6, 2002.
3. Peterson K.S., "Can trauma hide in back of the mind?" USA Today, 2. Highfield, R., "Disaster Counseling May Make Matters Worse for
September 12, 2002. Viclims" Daily Telegraph, London, September 6. 2002.
3. Edna Foa in Patterson, K. "Expens Scrutinize Treatments for
Trauma Survivors" Dallas Morning News, October 15, 2002.
"Remembering is a constructive process and illusions
of memory are the result of our struggle to weave the
remembered pieces of our past into a coherent narrative 0
story."
"We are constantly rewriting and redrawing our "If there is one thing we have learned in America during the
memories. It is not like calling up fixed events. It is more past two decades, it is that sensational accusations of sexu
like an artist painting on a canvas-taking some liberties, al misconduct, valid or not, have a tendency to lead to pub
embellishing things here, leaving things out there." lic hysteria. We have seen this in lhe egregious cases of
Henry L. Roediger, Ill, In Hathaway, W. "Total Recall: nursery-school owners and employees imprisoned for years
Accessing Memory" Hartford Courant, September 2, 2002 on the basis of fantastic claims. We have seen it in the rise
and fall of"recovered memories" in which, through the mir
acle of pseudo-psychology and tort law, litigants have lev
sp<clol tlumks
eled atrocious accusations at people who cannot defend
We extend a very special 'Thank you" to all of the people who help
themselves. And when hysteria is married to the vagaries of
prepare the FMSF Newsletter. Editorial Support: Toby Feld, Alien
Feld, Janet Fetkewicz. Howard Fishman, Peter Freyd. Columnists: the legal system, the result is a witch hunt."
August Piper, Jr. and Members of the FMSF Scientific Advisory Terzian, P., "Zero tolerance for zero tolerance"
Board. Letters and information: Our Readers. Providence Journal-Bulletin, Oclober 23, 2002.
2 FMS Founctaflon Newsle"er November/December 2002 Vol. I/ No. 6
Brief Report and Comments on
I I elements of satanic rituals, includ
legal evidence of the existence of ritu
Ritual Abuse Workshops
ing dismemberment, cannibalism,
al abuse is substantial and rapidly
Philip Kaushall, Ph.D.
human sacrifice, crucifixion, drinking growing."
Two workshops about "ritual blood and body fluids, and sexual The handout included a few exam
abuse" were included at the abuse with sexual rituals. ples of ritual abuse and a two-page bib
"International Conference on Family Anne Hart M.S. presented her own liography. Dr Lachter states: "A good
Violence" in San Diego, California on case as a study in repressed memories. deal more information on ritual abuse
September 25, 2002. Because several She said that she had been abused by would be available if it were not for the
of the presenters spoke at both ses her grandfather in ritual settings. secrecy preserved by the underground
sions, "Childhood Ritual Abuse" and Sacrifices were staged (no real dead groups that commit such abuse, the
"Psychotherapy with Ritualistic Abuse bodies, or perhaps just the first one). profound dissociative responses, the
Survivors," we combined the coments She presented more graphic details in fear of disclosure among its victims
for this brief report. the afternoon session. Ms. Hart empha (Fraser, 1997; Young and Young, 1997)
One of the presenters was Ms. sized the development of alters as a and the sophisticated use of mind con
Deborah Parker, who told of being defensive response to torture and sexu trol by some abuser groups."
taken as a child to sex parties by her al abuse as a child. Children had to According to Dr. Lachter, another
father (a prominent lawyer in the drown mice or else suffer punishments factor in the unfortunate secrecy is the
Sacramenta area, now deceased) who (fake drowning: head dunking under skeptical and appositional position of
was alcoholic and abusive towards his water). Children were sleep deprived, the False Memory Syndrome
family. Other "powerful" families were drugged and tortured. Her perpetrators Foundation that holds that memories of
involved. The partygoers routinely were professional people, smart and ritual abuse are false or grossly exag
raped her and other children, a practice well-educated. Her grandfather liked gerated. She noted that ''psychothera
that went on for several years. Her mechanical contraptions to attach to pists who treat victims of these abuses
mother also participated reluctantly. the body. She said she was emotional are often guarded about divulging this
The children were programmed to ly numb during the day and dissociated clinical data, or worse, discount the
keep the secret, via the psychological at night during the ritual abuse. reports of their clients, resulting in fur
mechanism of dissociation induced by Ms. Hart noted she had a high pain ther suppression of this information
fear, threats and actual torture. Ms tolerance because of her tortures. An (Brown, Scheflin & Hammond, 1998;
experience recalled years later, for Coons, 1997. Young & Young, 1997)."
Parker's father died a number of years
ago and her mother died three years example, was that some of her teeth As empirical evidence for the exis
were extracted without anaesthetic tence of ritual abuse Dr. Lachter men
ago. Her repressed memories were
when she was a child. She said she tioned the fact that: "One national sur
aroused suddenly without the help of a
therapist, triggered by a cupboard in was conditioned not to feel pain (by vey of 2,709 clinical psychologists
the bedroom that reminded her of how dissociation) so that she could have hat showed that 30% claimed to have seen
pins pass through her hands and feet as at least one case of 'ritualistic or reli
she used to hide from her father.
in a crucifixion. She offered no scars gion-based abuse' and 93% of these
Ms. Parker said that she was ritual
as testimony and no one asked to see believed the harm actually
istically buried alive in a coffin and
any evidence. occurred."(Goodman, Qui, Bottoms,
saw her mother's face as the lid was
Dr. Ellen Lachter, Ph.D. cited her and Shaver, in "Characteristics and
closed over her and the dirt flung on
work with seven to ten survivors of rit Sources of Allegations of Ritualistic
the coffin. She said this was punish
ual abuse. She said these victims were Child Abuse" 1994).
ment for some transgression of the
rules. She said another punishment pre-schoolers when the abuse began Mary Battles, MFT, talked exten
and it continued through their child sively about dissociation and how it
was having a rabbit ripped apart over
her head. She was also ordered to eat a hood. Dr. Lachter provided a handout functions to control pain and foster
tongue described as "the tongue of a of research titled "Brief synopsis of the denial. She said that the mind control
survivor who told." literature on the existence of ritualistic imposed on the young participants is
Another presenter, Jeanne Adams, abuse." Her thesis was that the exis powerful enough to prevent disclosure
B.S. stated she had researched child tence of ritualistic abuse was not in until adulthood when, for some, a
sexual abuse with 500 survivors. She dispute so the workshop was not going sense of safety allows the memories to
stressed that the term "satanic" was ill to be embroiled in discussions or con surface. Dissociative Identity Disorder
advised as it implied superstition, but troversies of evidence. In her handout is so prevalent as a defense against the
these were "real cases" .... She listed she writes: ''The psychological and horrors of torture and terror that vie-
------------------------FMS Foundation Newsletter November/December 2002 Vol. J 1 No. 6 3
thy topic for this Conference.
abductions, channeling or past lives,
tims may not disclose until they have
because some people claim to have Phi/ip Kaushal/, Ph.D. is a practitioner in
resolved the disorder.
such experiences, was not raised). The private practice in San Diego. He is rhe
Comments: One can only wonder
Executive Director of the Center for
skeptics (perhaps now including much
why, given the mandatory child abuse
Professional Ethics and lAw
of the general public) want more con
reporting laws, psychologists and pre Q
crete proof and hold that such proof
sumably other professionals involved
with child care are not flooding the should be available, given the extent "One of the presenters, Mary
FBI with crimes to solve. If these prac and nature of the crimes described. At Battles, listened to alleged victims of
tices were so prevalent they would present, after two decades of this a satanic cult in therapy sessions a
dwarf any other category of crime unusual and well-publicized fonn of decade ago. Battles convinced two
against children, and generate more alleged multiple perpetrator sexual San Diego police detectives, who
media attention than that currently cre abuse by adults claiming to have also subscribed to the ritual-abuse
ated by a handful of child abductions recovered memories, we are unaware theory, that the murderous cult was
by strangers, for example. A glance at of a single conviction of a perpetrator operating out of a Clairemont area
the statistics made available by the group based on objective evidence. church. The alleged cult victims
Institute of Justice shows no such cate Victimization from any source is revealed "repressed memories" to
gory to cover organized child abuse as painful and degrading. One attraction Battles in which babies were sacri
described in such horrific detail by Dr. of the ritualistic abuse paradigm may ficed in ceremonies at the church and
Lachter. be that it elevates the victims into a their blood was drunk from chalices.
The absence of public and agency band of Survivors, as if returned from The detectives requisitioned bulldoz
concern forces believers into the posi an alien space voyage, with a message ers and prepared to excavate church
tion of accusing government agencies for the world. Disbelief is not only
grounds before police brass stepped
and the criminal justice system of expected, it is welcomed as a sign of
in and halted the unlikely investiga
being "penetrated" by powerful perpe their special status as resurrected (re
tion.
trators. Although this position seems to emerged as whole) victims of a special
''But Geffner [the conference
be entering the theater of the absurd, it type of abuse.
organizer] said the fact that investi
is the only logical explanation for the One characteristic of the ritual
gators can find no evidence of ritual
"silence"-unless one accepts that no abuse belief system is also characteris
abuse doesn't mean it isn't there."
evidence could mean that it isn't there. tic of many cults: the system is non
[Geffner said that the district
There were about 30 to 40 people falsifiable. Cause and effect relation
attorney] "announced recently he is
attending each of the sessions. Perhaps ships in the mind are impossible to
prosecuting two local people who
other competing talks were more com prove scientifically, except under nar
are part of a child pornography ring.
pelling or perhaps the small number row experimental conditions. Thus
That ring goes across several coun
was a heartening reflection of the con mental states or clinical disorders in
ties and represents the systematic
ference attendees' judgement. No con adults cannot be ascribed to specific
abuse of children - that is ritual
frontational opinions were expressed experiences or traumas in childhood
abuse."
in the questions from the audience and with any objective certainty. Hence
[The district attorney, Paul
there were no arguments or disrup speculation and fantasy can roam
Pfingst, said] "that case had
tions. Personally, I could not find the freely to create narratives that satisfy
absolutely nothing to do with ritual
motivation to confront as there were so the "victim's search for a meaningful
abuse. It had to do with fathers
many extreme observations and state reason for her mental condition and
molesting their own children on
ments that I was overwhelmed. In my sense of victimhood. These cases pro
videotape and spreading it around
opinion any confrontation would only liferate with therapists who are trained
the world for other pedophiles to see;
have interrupted the presentations and to "believe the patient" without asking
a straightforward child pom case. No
not changed any minds. for external corroborative evidence. one is alleging any ceremonies or
Conclusions: My experience at I believe, all in all, that these pre
animal sacrifices or cannibalism
these workshops caused me to reflect senters harm the field of child abuse
took place."
on the nature of belief and objective prevention by creating skepticism Sauer, M. "Abuse or unfounded
knowledge. For believers in ritual rather than forcing serious attention to fear? Either way, talks to delve into rir
abuse the "memories" of the survivors the nature of objective evidence and ual child torture" San Diego Union·
is enough proof. (The obvious question commonsense corroboration. This last Tribune, September 21, 2002
of whether we should believe in alien consideration would have been a wor-
4 FMS Foundation Newsle"er November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6
Blocked Conference Yields Success The impetus gained by localizing twins have similar brain structures, this
Reprinted from the BFMS Newsletter the conference, together with the pub result suggests that the veterans who
Vol. l 0 ( J ), October, 2002 licity raised by controversy, con had PTSD had smaller hippocampi
"From Rumor to Reason" is a tributed to the conference success, before they were in combat. The find
rolling series of professional confer since a number of delegates were, ini ing was significant even after patients
ences in North America examining the tially at least, actively hostile to the who reported childhood sexual or
reliability of evidence in child sexual aims of the conference. Series organiz physical abuse were subtracted. This
abuse cases. In the USA the series has er Kathy Begert commented that, suggests that a smaller hippocampus
had a strong psycho-social bias with despite the difficulties, it had been the size increased vulnerability to PTSD
emphasis on suggestibility and the cre most successful to date. From the per and was not caused by trauma.
ation of "false memory" narratives. spective of the Legal Affairs Adviser,
attending the conference emphasized "Now a study that involved 40
However, when psychiatrist
Professor Harold Merskey organized a the need for cross-jurisdictional focus sets of twins found the smaller vol
on the circumstantial reliability of evi ume (of the hippocampus) is likely
Canadian event at the University of
dence with increased two-way commu inherited and not a consequence of
Western Ontario, through the
nication between the relevant profes the trauma or combat. It suggests the
Department of Psychiatry in May this
hippocampus can increase one's vul
sionals on both sides of the Atlantic.
year, political correctness intervened.
nerability to post-traumatic stress
The strong contingent of "recovered 0
disorder."
memory" supporters at the University Smaller Hippocampal Volume Bridges, A. "Study: brain region size
complained that no women were on the Predicts Pathologic Vulnerability to linked to post-traumatic stress,"
conference \)\at\orm - a fact that was Psychological Trauma" Associated Press, October 15,2002
chance and to do with the availability Gilbertson. M.W. et al.
of speakers. Distinguished female aca Nature Neuroscience, October 5. 2002
0
demics, such as Elizabeth Loftus, have doi: I 0.1 038/nn958
Sources of Bias in
spoken at other events. Past studies have found that the
Memory for Emotions
Such was the ensuing furor that the hippocampus is smaller than normal in
Levine, L.J. & Safer, M.A.
conference had to be moved from the brains of veterans who suffer from
Currem Directions in Psychological
under the auspices of the Department posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Science, 11 (5), October 2002, 169-173
of Psychiatry to the Faculty of Law. In A similar finding has been reported in
the Canadian context, this change The authors reviewed the literature
children who have been abused.
turned out to be fortuitous for it led to Indeed, it has been said that childhood to determine how accurately people
a strengthening of the legal component sexual abuse causes the hippocampus remembered their own past emotions.
of the conference with a particular to be smaller. The study by Gilbertson They found that: a) explicit memory
accent on the Canadian criminal law. et al. raises very serious questions for emotions is partially reconstructed
BFMS legal adviser, Margaret on the basis of current feelings about
about the assumption that stress caused
Jervis, attended the conference and the hippocampus to shrink in volume. past emotional events; b) current
was struck by the fact that what are Gilbertson et al. studied 40 men appraisals are associated with bias, i.e.
termed "distant event" cases in who saw combat in Vietnam and their if people are currently distressed, they
Canada, are as real a problem of twins who did not. About half of the may exaggerate prior distress; and c)
wrongful conviction there as in the UK combat veterans suffered from chronic that personality traits may cause bias,
(although, in common with other com i.e. people with a high measure of anx
PTSD. None of the other 60 partici
monwealth jurisdictions, there is no pants in the study had ever been affect iety report greater negative affect and
acceptance of the lowered "similar recalled feeling even worse than the
ed by PTSD.
fact" doctrine in Canada). The affected veterans' hippocam average of their reports.
This context differs significantly
pal volume was I 0 percent smaller
from most states in the US. With the
than those who had never suffered
exception of homicide, criminal limita
from PTSD but who had been in com
''The past is continually being re
tion laws in the US preclude long bat. However, twins of the combat vet
made, reconstructed in the interests
delayed late prosecutions, though dis
erans with PTSD also had smaller hip
covery rules in civil cases have placed of the present."
pocampi even though they had not
a greater weight on matters such as Bartlett ( 1932)
been in combat. Because identical
, Reprinted in Levine & Safer (2002)
alleged "recovere d memory.
FMS Foundation Newsle"e' November/December 2002 VOl. 11 No. 6 5
Psychological Science Special Conversations and Collaborations With Breaking the Barrier? Children
Subjects and Patients"; Ralph L. Fail to Translate Their Preverbal
Journal Issue Devoted to Study of
Rosnow:''The Nature and Role of Demand Memories into Language
Demand Characteristics
Characteristics in Scientific Inquiry";
Simcock, G. & Hayne, H.
Prevention & Treatment, Vol 5,
Robert Rosenthal: "Experimenter and
Psychological Science, Vol 13(3) May,
October 18, 2002
Clinician Effects in Scientific Inquiry and
2002, 225~231
http://joumals.apa.org/prevention/vol~ Clinical Practice"; Loren Pankratz:
umeS/toc~oct 18~02.html "Demand Characteristics and the This study provides strong eviw
Development of Dual, False Belief Systems"; dence that children can only describe
The term "demand characteristics"
Campbell Perry :"Hypnosis, Demand
memories using the words they knew
was coined by Martin Ome, M.D.,
Characteristics, and 'Recovered Memory'
at the time those memories were
Ph.D. to describe the influence of Therapy"; Jonalhan W. Kanter, Robert J.
social~motivational factors in deter~ Kohlenberg, and Elizabeth F. Loftus: stored. The researchers went to the
mining the outcomes of research con~ "Demand Characteristics, Treatment homes of two to threewyear~olds and
ducted with human subjects. Dr. Orne Rationales, and Cognitive Therapy for brought a "magic shrinking machine"
noted that, in any social interaction, Depression"; Harold Merskey: "Some with them. The machine was a large
Recent Changes in Demand Characteristics
there are certain implicit assumptions box with handles and it make strange
in Psychotherapy"; Donald P. Spence:
and expectations that the parties hold sounds when the knobs were turned.
''Turning Case Reports ln!O Evidence: The
regarding their respective roles and Hidden Role of Demand Characteristics"; Children learned how to use the
these, in turn, can affect their behav Robert A. Karlin: "Advice and Consent: machine to make a toy disappear and
iors beyond any explicit communica~ Demand Characteristics, Ritual, and the then to retrieve a smaller identical toy.
tions between them. In the research Transmission of Practical Wisdom in the During the visit, the toddlers' vocabu~
Clinical Context".
context, for example, the volunteer lary was tested.
0
often wishes to make a valuable contri~ One year later the researchers
bution to science and, therefore, seeks again brought the box to the children.
to discern what the researcher hopes to "[There are] a growing number First the children were asked to
prove and attempts to respond accord of psychologists and neuroscientists describe the game. They did this using
ingly. Such behavior occurs regardless whose research is showing the only the words they knew the previous
of the manifest instructions of the importance of the unconscious .... year even though they now had vocab
researcher and has the potential to But this isn't Freud's unconscious, ularies that were significandy larger.
complicate the interpretation and gen that maelstrom of primitive emotions The children readily remembered how
eralizability of research findings. and repressed memories." to use the machine. The authors felt
The concept of demand character~ "Instead, the unconscious being that their verbal descriptions of the
istics, however, is also relevant to excavated by scientists processes event were frozen in time.
issues of psychological diagnosis and data, sets goals, judges people,
treatment. This special journal issue detects danger, formulates stereo~ The Simcock and Hayne study
presents Ome's original paper and then types and infers causes, all outside "demonstrates that you can't reach
nine commentaries that examine how our conscious awareness." back to the nonverbally coded mem~
demand characteristics contribute to "This sophisticated system oper~ ories and describe them with words.
actual therapeutic outcomes. ates under the radar of consciousness It also predicts that you remember
The journal is available at the web not because it has something to hide, more from your early age the earlier
address above. Contents are: as Freud argued, but for the sake of you acquire language."
Introduction to the issue efficiency. We need to process so Andrew Meltzoff
Wayne G. Whitehouse, Emily Carota much information to survive that "Wordless Memories," Science, Vol
Ome, and David F. Dinges: "Demand Char 296, May 17, 2002, p 1233
some of it has to occur unconscious
acteristics: Toward an Understanding of
ly, much as a computer runs on
Their Meaning and Application in Clinical Q
machine language that no one wants
Practice"
Target article to see on the monitor. Even while our
"The charm, one might say the
Martin T. Orne: "On The Social mind is otherwise engaged, we can
genius of memory, is that it is choosy,
Psychology of the Psychological Expe profit from unconscious calcula~
riment: With Particular Reference to Demand chancy, and temperamental: it rejects the
tions."
Characteristics and Their Implications" edifying cathedral and indelibly pho
Begley, S.,
Commentaries tographs the small boy outside, chewing
"Follow Your Intuition,"
John F. Kihlstrom: "'Demand Char a hunk of melon in the dust."
Wall Street Joumal, August 8, 2002
acteristics in the Laboratory and the Clinic: Elizabeth Bowen
6 FMS Foundation Newsletter November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6
Candace Newmaker Resolution Unfortunately the evidence that the Fuzzy-Trace Theory and False
of 2002: States Urged to Ban accusations were false was never Memory
Rebirthing Therapy sought. Brainerd, DJ. & Reyna, V.F.
Jaye D. Bartha The outcomes were positively cor Current Directions in
related with the amount of contact Psychological Science
WASHINGTON, D.C., September
between the alleged victim and the Vol 11 (5). October 2002, 164-169
17, 2002. Rep. Susan Myrick, R-North
family, except where the allegations
Carolina, will introduce the Candace The authors note that a successful
arose in the context of an acrimonious
Newmaker Resolution of 2002 before theory should both explain and predict
the U.S. House of Representatives parental relationship. When the parents the data. Fuzzy-trace theory developed
were completely excluded there were
today. The discussion is scheduled to as a response to the finding that rea·
no good outcomes.
air on CSPAN between 2-2:30 p.m. soning accuracy was largely indepen
EST. The resolution defines rebirthing Dr. Pillai found that professionals dent of memory accuracy. Brainerd
as "a therapy to reenact the rebirthing involved in the cases made no attempt and Reyna present evidence to argue
process in a manner that includes to find out whether abuse had actually that Fuzzy-trace theory can account
restraint and creates a situation in taken place. The uncorroborated opin for the great diversity of false memory
which a patient may suffer physical ions of doctors were taken as fact by phenomena. They argue that verbatim
injury or death." Rep. Myrick says that other professionals. In the report she and gist retrieval both support true
"rebirthing is a dangerous and harmful raises two reoccurring features: first, memory for experienced items.
that families and the alleged abusers However, verbatim and gist retrieval
practice and should be prohibited."
were profiled; and second, that have opposite effects on false memory
In April 2000, tO-year-old
Candace Newmaker of North Carolina accusers and investigators used for items. Gist retrieval supports false
"denial" as an indication of guilt. She memory because items' meanings
was killed during a botched rebirthing
found that there is a "culture of support seem familiar.
session held in Evergreen, Colorado
and empathy with those making allega The authors note that "false-mem
under the supervision of psychothera
tions of abuse." ory research is still in its infancy, how·
pists Connell Watkins and Julie
Dr. Pillai also found that the costs ever, and theoretical principles could
Ponder. Both psychotherapists are cur
of defending false allegations were change considerably down the road."
rent\)! serving 16-year prison terms.
extremely high. According to one com
Candace's Law, prohibiting the prac 0
mentator about this report,lll other
tice of rebirthing therapy, was passed
accounts have found that a complex "The thought of child abuse is so
in Colorado 17 months ago today.
child protection cost may cost more distressing we have suspended natur
0 than one million pounds to all of the al justice, abandoned safeguards and
parties involved in the case. surrendered to the no smoke without
Allegations of Abuse: The Need for
Dr. Pillai, who is a forensic med fire syndrome. And the stench is
Responsible Practice
ical examiner for the police, cautioned undeniable. We are burning witches
Mary Pillai
that because of the small self-selected again."
Med. Sci. Law Vol. 42 (2), 2002
sample, it would be unwise to draw Scott, R. "A burning injustice"
There have been very few efforts quantitative conclusions on the scale of Sunday Mirror (London)
to investigate the outcomes for fami August 4, 2002.
the problem.
lies who have been involved in false
I. Morgan, B. "'Research Into Practice".
allegations of abuse. Dr. Mary Pillai Community Care (U.K.) October 17. 2002. "The ultimate measure of a man is
conducted a survey of outcomes of 0
not where he stands in moments of
twenty-two families in Great Britain
comfort, but where he stands at
who were charged in criminal or civil Be sure to see the current issue of
times of challenge and controversy."
proceedings when a female adolescent the British False Memory Society
Martin Luther King, Jr.
or young adult developed a mental Newsletter for information about the
health problem. The outcomes were Pillai report. The issue also contains
the an insightful article examining the
almost all disastrous both for the "Our hopes. fears, and desires influ-
background of some major child abuse
young person and the family. In every ence how we think, perceive, and
scares in Great Britain. lt adds to the
case there was no evidence to support remember."
growing body of knowledge about
the allegations of abuse and substantial Joseph LeDoux,
how hysterical events happened.
evidence to show that they were false. The Emotional Bmin, 1996
www.bfms.org.uk
FMS Foundation Newsletter November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6 7
Tennessee Psychologist Buckner started age regression hypno·
TWo Papers of Interest
Gives Up His License sis with the sister on the second visit.
Available on Web at
State of Tennessee Department of Health, Satterfield, J. "Psychologist agrees to give up
Board of Examiners in Psychology, his license," Knoxville News-Seminel, July 26, http://www.sierratrialandopinion.co
docket No. 17.15·020979A 2002; "Ousted psychologist probed anew" m/papers
July 29, 2002.
In July 2002, Michae\ 0. Buckner "Dispatch From the Repressed
entered an agreement with the Dorsey v Chapman, No 99-14790 Memory Legal Front"
Tennessee Board of Examiners in 11th Cir. Aug. 20, 2001 Loftus, E. F., & Davis, D. (2002)
Psychology that bars him from ever 2001 U.S. App.Lexis 18749 Psychiatric Ttmes, Vol. XIX
obtaining a license to practice psycho). "It was a travesty of justice for the Issue 4, p 44-45, 50-51.
ogy in that state. Buckner was accused state of Georgia to convict a man on
of using regression therapy to make the testimony of less than one per "Commentary: How, When, and
female patients childlike and then hav son." From Judge Noonan's dissent. Whether to Use Informed Consent
ing sex with them. Diane Denton, a for Recovered Memory Therapy"
James E. Dorsey lost the federal
State Department of Health spokes· Davis, D., Loftus, E. & Follette, W.
appeal of his 20-year sentence for the
woman said that her agency investigat· rape and sexual battery of a young JAm Acad Psychiatry Law 29,
ed Buckner after someone who was not p. 148-159,2001
woman who had come to his wife, a
one of the patients filed a complaint
school counselor, for help. The young
Buckner, who received his license
woman began to babysit for the
in 1987, acknowledged that he is guilty
Dorseys' children after the counseling. New Book of Legal Interest
of ethical violations, including "gross
Later her psychological problems got Psychiatry in Law/
malpractice" and fostering "exploita·
worse, and she sought professional Law in Psychiatry
tive relationships."
help. During those latter sessions, sev Ralph Slovenko, J.D., Ph.D.
During the time that Buckner was
eral alternate personalities emerged Professor of Law and Psychiatry
surrendering his license as a psycholo·
and claimed that she had engaged in Wayne State University School of Law
gist, he was also advertising a new
sexual activities with the Dorseys and Brunner-Routledge
"pastoral counseling" service in a local
that she had been sexually abused by
This new book by FMSF Advisory
holistic healing magazine. The adver
her grandfather as a child. In the year Board member Professor Ralph
tisement lists him as a provider of
before the Dorseys were indicted, the Slovenko will be of interest to profes
"pastoral counseling services" includ·
woman was admitted to a psychiatric sionals working in the intersection of
ing 'spiritual mediumship" and "holis·
hospital five time. psychiatry and law. The first volume,
tic healing" for the "mind, body and
Dorsey testified at the trial that he Psychiatry in Law, includes topics
spirit." Tennessee law prohibits anyone
had sexual relations with the woman such as psychiatric expert testimony,
who is not certified or licensed as a
but that it had been consensual. The privileged communication, competen
pastoral therapist from advertising
state prosecutors argued that the cy to stand trial and criminal responsi·
those services. It is a misdemeanor to
woman's multiple personality disorder bility. The second volume, Law in
violate that law. made her incapable of intelligently Psychiatry, includes discussions of
Some FMSF Newsletter readers consenting to sex. hospitalization of the mentally ill, psy
may recall the case of Rabe et al. vs chiatric malpractice and regulation of
At the trial, only two of the ten
Con~:don in 1991 in which two adult alternate personalities were sum psychotherapy. Related to issues of
daughters sued their Oak Ridge scien concern about FMS is the section on
moned to testify. The host personality
tist father of sexual abuse. Local news psychiatric malpractice. It covers:
denied that any sex had occurred. The
papers featured stories and pictures of Establishing Malpractice Liability,
Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the
investigators examining property for Overview of Psychiatric Malpractice,
conviction and the Georgia Supreme
physical evidence of other wrongdo Breach of Confidentiality, Informed
Court refused to hear the case. Dorsey
ings. No evidence of anything was ever Consent, The Boundary Violation of
then made a federal appeal based on
Undue Familiarity, Failure to Treat and
found. Ms. Rabe underwent age
the fact that not all alters had been
Related Issues, Suicide, and Duty of
regression hypnosis with Michael
called to testify and the issue was
Therapists to Third Parties.
Buckner on at least one occasion. Ms.
whether Dorsey had had the opportu The two volume set is $160.00
Rabe's sister and CO·plaintiff had sev·
nity at trial to do so. For more information: 800-634-7064
eral years of age regression hypnosis
See FMSF newsletter Vol 8 (3) ApriUMay. [email protected]
with him. According to a deposition,
0
8 FMS Foundaffon News/ener November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6
A Special Letter to Families For a decade, many of you have stand before our Maker - who by the
from Laura Pasley been in my life. You have been so lov way KNOWS the truth.
I just returned home from the ing and giving and I cherish the rela God bless you all for being a part
National FMSF Conference held in tionships I have had in you for so long. of my life. God bless you for being so
Illinois. As most of you know, I Now, just as consistently as you have kind to me and my kids. God bless you
loved me-you share that love with my for the pain you have had from this
recently obtained custody of my
baby. Then I think of how accepted and thing. I wish I could get each and every
nephews, Dalton 11, Cotton 19
loved I feel, how safe my child feels one of your daughters/sons, etc. and
months, and niece, Tara, 8. Cotton
(just as Jennifer always did), and how shake them until I convinced them they
attended the conference with me. The
much time you have missed with your have taken something so precious
others stayed with my daughter
children, and their children and in when life is so short and chucked it out
Jennifer, now a 22-year-old woman.
some cases THEIR children. like the trash. If they are so self-con
My bead has been spinning since I
Recovered Memory Therapy will go sumed with their victim-hood, then at
checked out of the hotel. I would like
down in history as destroying so many minimum, they should allow the
to take each one of your accusing adult
family units and causing so much pain grandchildren to have an untainted
children who are keeping your grand
within the families affected. This is relationship with their grandparents.
children from you and ring their necks.
something the therapists should hang God bless you all for loving me.
My precious baby would frolic
their heads in shame over. Thank you for your acceptance. I told
throughout the Double Tree without a
Unfortunately, most of them have no many of you over the years, if your
care in the world. Pamela Freyd
shame. As I have shared my life with daughters/sons do not want you, I'll
bought him a ball and played with him
you, and shared my kids with you, I take you -just as you are. That goes for
in the lobby. Her face glowed as she
can feel the pain you have been left my kids as well. Cotton is still smiling
watched him look up at her with his
with by not having your family intact. from the wonderful weekend he expe
beautiful eyes and talk as if he were
I wish I could constantly be there for rienced with his newfound friends. It
talking to an old friend. He put his
all of you. I wish you could play ball will be recorded in his memory book
arms out to Peter so trusting, wanting
and spend the day at the zoo or park with photos. (I have attended every sin
to be held. Ray and Shirley Souza held
with my kids. I have stayed in many of gle national level conference and of
this precious child while we took pho
your homes while traveling and was course, have lots of photos) And one
tos. Ernily Ome ''just had to get him
always welcomed with open arms. day, when he is a young man, I pray he
that monkey in the gift shop." Liz
You have so much life and experience will study this issue and know I played
LaPiant helped get him to sleep with
to give to the children of today. There a part in the memory wars. I hope he is
that "special touch." Carol Perkins, the
is an immeasurable amount of wisdom as proud of me as Jennifer is. I hope he
wife of the big bad Bruce Perkins, sat
within the group. loves me the way she does and the way
beside him in the backseat while he
I love you all - I respect you all Dalton and Tara do. I hope he respects
played with his trucks. Beth Loftus
and I am so very sorry you have been me for who I am. With that, he will
enjoyed the continual clapping he did
hurt so badly. I have spent ten years know that for the past decade, you all
as she finished her speech and the
trying to undo the damage. In this, the have been an intricate part of my life.
clapping he did each time he saw her
year 2002, it is hard for me to fathom Thank you all God bless you all.
from then on. Mary Shanley rocked
how in the world those still involved Thank you for sharing your pain and
him with the love and kindness that she
can continue the charade. Is pride tears, but most of all your love and
has always possessed. Many of you
keeping them from coming home? laughter throughout the last ten years
stopped to play ball in the outer area
How in the world will they look them of my life. I am a better person having
during breaks. All of you enjoyed
selves in the face when their children known each of you.
watching him at the dinner on Saturday
find out this hatred for their family has Laura Pasley
in his little suit and tie. He enjoyed
stemmed not from healing, but from Dallas, Texas
himself so much. When you laughed,
harming? How will the children ever PS: If you want to send this \etter to
he laughed - when you clapped, he too
forgive them for cheating them out of your accusing daughter/son and they
clapped. He felt so safe within this
the time their grandparents would have would like to debate this issue with me
group of "accused child molesters," he
so lovingly given them? For the doc - tell them to meet me online. lep
went from one to the other giving kiss
tors, who should have first done no [email protected] I look forward to
es and hugs and smiling so much it
harm, how can the hann ever be the opportunity.
looked as if a coat hanger was in his
undone? Lord help them all when they
mouth. He had the time of his life.
FMS Foundation Newsleffer November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6 9
memories" of my deeds from when she kept me alive, truly.
was two years old. These had been I know that you were keeping track
conjured up while she was attending of recantations and reunions so I want
an OA meeting where her sponsor had ed you to know, but also wanted to tell
Full Employment become her hypno-counselor. The you what a saving grace you provided
The Courage to Heal by Ellen FMSF, the local support group in in a nightmarish time. Feel free to use
Bass and Laura Davis had a pivotal Seattle, and Dr. Loftus saved my sani any of this in your newsletter but
impact on my daughter's false accusa ty! please don't mention my name.
tions and subsequent estrangement. My daughter sent me only a letter AMom
0
When I read that Laura Davis has now - making the accusations and order
written a book on reconciliation, it ing me to "stay away" from her and her Dear Friends
reminded me of the unemployed fire family. This I did with the exception of
In the July/August 2002
fighter a few months ago who started a a few letters and cards. She also turned
Newsletter, the criminal case of Tom
forest fire so he could be employed her younger sister away from me -
Wright in Maine was described. I
putting it out! Courage to Heal caused despite the fact that this daughter could
thought you would be interested to
the fire. Her new book is about putting not resurrect repressed memories
out the fire. (much to the disappointment of her know that the criminal charges against
him were dropped on July 10, 2002.
A Dad older sister). Only my son believed me
0 and stayed the course with me. The case against Tom seems to
Just this week I received a "so very have been a classic example of pastoral
A Chapter on False Memories
sorry'' letter (not really a recantation) counseling gone terribly awry at the
I have followed the FMSF since its with a beautiful and poignant card in hands of a pastor who was a renegade
inception, and was a regular contribu which she wrote an apology for the from his own church body. Indeed the
tor for a number of years after my sis "hurt and doubt." Here are some snip church had even been excluded from
ter accused my grandfather and father. pets from the letter: the parent organization.
Finally I had to move on, and stopped "All I can say is I'm sorry and I You may recall that Wright had
following the foundation. However, hope you can forgive me, or at least been arrested on criminal charges of
my daughter is now a freshman in col start to. I want to be back in touch with child abuse that he claimed were a con
lege and is taking an intro psych you, to be a part of your life and to sequence of his skepticism about his
course. I've never discussed my sister's have you be a part of mine." "Right wife's memories recovered in counsel
accusation with my daughter. I was now, I don't want to discuss anything ing with the pastor. The pastor used
surprised to find that my daughter's too "heavy about our relationship or trance work and deep meditation to
course includes a chapter on false the past or anything like that. I just help members of his flock recover
memories, and she gave me the url to want to get back in your life little by repressed memories of past abuse. He
your web site! I guess the profession little." She writes of talking about also suggested that he had divine direc
really has turned around on the issue. I "serious" things after a while. I wrote tion and thus validated the newly
know they would never have acknowl back to her that she had been forgiven emerging worst-case imaginings of his
edged the phenomena 10 years ago. years ago, and that my struggle had congregants as the word of God.
This has also given me the opening to been to try to understand our family's I am writing this letter to let you
talk with my daughter about the sub frailties as factors that brought this know that a local reporter, Joe Appel,
ject, which would have been very hard about. did an outstanding job in uncovering
10 years ago. I am most grateful to all of you the story behind the accusations
You should feel very proud of your folks. Since my retirement and move to against Tom Wright. For example,
work, and I'm glad my small efforts another location, I stopped my sub Appel cited case histories of other
went to a worthwhile cause. scription to the newsletter. I thought prior members of the congregation
A Brother that I could start anew in these beauti who fell from the pastor's good graces
0 ful surroundings and resigned myself and were similarly accused and
Serious Things After A While to the loss of daughters and grandchil shunned, although not criminally
dren. But, the books you recommend charged as was Tom Weight.
Back in November 1992 I was ed, the articles in the newsletter, the Anyone who would like to have a
wrongly accused of sexually molesting immediate responses and support of better understanding of how false
my daughter. She had "recovered body some of the families out here really accusations can happen, particularly in
10 FMS Foundation Newsletter November/December 2002 Vol. 11 No. 6