Repressed Memories

Elizabeth Loftus

“Derepressed memories”

• Loftus opens with several examples of court cases that involve “derepressed memories”

• What is a repressed memory?

• What is a derepressed memory?

Loftus’ position in this article

• Loftus does not reject the notion of repressed memories– 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report having

regained access to previously repressed memories

Loftus’ position in this article

• Loftus does not reject the notion of repressed memories– 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report having

regained access to previously repressed memories

• What does Loftus challenge?

Loftus’ position in this article

• Loftus does not reject the notion of repressed memories– 18% - 59% of abuse survivors report having

regained access to previously repressed memories

• What does Loftus challenge?

…That all “de-repressed” memories are accurate memories.

High Stakes

• Survivor of real abuse might struggle for years or decades with consequences and need to confront the repressed memory in order to recover emotionally

• False accusation could tear family apart and send an innocent person to jail

What’s the issue?

• What does Loftus express concern about regarding the derepression of memories?

What’s the issue?

• What does Loftus express concern about regarding the derepression of memories?– reality of the memory is in question if it is

recalled under certain circumstances

What’s the issue?

• What does Loftus express concern about regarding the derepression of memories?– reality of the memory is in question if it is

recalled under certain circumstances

• What is the course of events that Loftus finds worrisome?

What’s the issue?

• What does Loftus express concern about regarding the derepression of memories?– reality of the memory is in question if it is

recalled under certain circumstances

• What is the course of events that Loftus finds worrisome?

Therapist or Popular Book suggests that patient consider possibility of abuse

Patient engages in intense effort to recall

An explicit episodic memory is achieved

What’s the issue?

• Why might a well-meaning therapist or author suggest abuse?

What’s the issue?

• Why might a well-meaning therapist or author suggest abuse?

• Symptoms:– low self-esteem– suicidal/self-destructive thoughts– depression– sexual dysfunction

What’s the issue?

• What problem does Loftus point out is inherent in diagnosing symptoms?

What’s the issue?

• What problem does Loftus point out is inherent in diagnosing symptoms?

• Confirmatory Bias: people often look for the presence of symptoms to confirm a suspected diagnosis rather than absence of symptoms to disconfirm a diagnosis

What’s the issue?

• So we potentially have a situation in which someone who is having troubles in life and is seeking answers is told to determine whether or not memories for abuse exist

• What are some techniques that are used to “assist” recollection?

What’s the issue?

• So we potentially have a situation in which someone who is having troubles in life and is seeking answers is told to determine whether or not memories for abuse exist

• What are some techniques that are used to “assist” recollection?– hypnosis, imagery, dream analysis, story telling

False Memories

• Could these techniques or the mere suggestion of abuse insert a false memory in a patient?

False Memories

• Could these techniques or the mere suggestion of abuse insert a false memory in a patient?

• We talked about laboratory examples of false memories and memory distortions, but do false memories occur for real-world events?

False Memories

• What are some of the investigations Loftus cites?

False Memories

• What are some of the investigations Loftus cites?– Piaget’s attempted kidnapping– Challenger explosion

False Memories

• What are some of the investigations Loftus cites?– Laurence & Perry (1983) - Suggested to

subjects under hypnosis that they had been woken up by a loud sound

• 13/27 ultimately recalled being woken up !

False Memories

• What are some of the investigations Loftus cites?– Loftus & Coan - family member is enlisted to

discuss a fictitious episode in which subject was supposedly lost in a shopping mall

• subjects can develop surprisingly vivid recollection of this fictitious event

Conclusion:

• We cannot know with certainty (without corroborating evidence) whether a derepressed memory is true

Conclusion:

• We cannot know with certainty (without corroborating evidence) whether a derepressed memory is true

• Therapists should engage in probing this possibility very carefully

– avoiding suggestive questions

– remaining unconvinced without corroborating evidence

– being “gently confrontational” to encourage patient to consider the possibility that the events didn’t happen

Next Time:

• Oliver Sacks: The Lost Mariner and a discussion of amnesia