NCJ Number
146324
Journal
ABA Journal Volume: 79 Dated: (November 1993) Pages: 70-73
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the idea that memories of childhood sexual abuse can be repressed and then recovered later in life through therapy. It focuses, in particular, on legal challenges to this idea that are being brought by patients and accused abusers in lawsuits against the psychotherapists who are supposedly helping the patient to recover the memories.
Abstract
Beginning in the early 1980s, the concept of recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse has gained acceptance in the psychotherapy community. It is theorized that the childhood sexual abuse was so traumatic that all memories of it were repressed until adulthood when they were retrieved in therapy. Since 1988, courts and legislators in 23 States have created legal mechanisms that allow these alleged victims to bring civil and criminal actions against their accused abusers. It has resulted in devastation to many lives, not only that of the alleged victim but also family members, friends and neighbors. Judges and juries are starting to look at these cases with skepticism, however. Within the psychotherapy and research psychology communities there are those who criticize the idea that memories can be repressed and then recovered. They believe that the memories are inadvertently manufactured by the therapists and planted in the patients through suggestive questioning and drug therapy. This article looks at both sides of this issue. It focuses on lawsuits for negligence and malpractice that have been brought against the therapists by patients and by persons accused of being the child abuser. Other relevant case law is discussed.