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Victims of Memory: Sex Abuse Accusations and Shattered Lives, Second Edition

NCJ Number
176305
Author(s)
M Pendergrast
Date Published
1996
Length
635 pages
Annotation
This book examines and discusses recovered-memory therapy, the scientific validity of recovered memory and court cases involving recovered memory issues.
Abstract
The book is divided into 13 chapters, each covering a variety of topics, some of which are noted: (1) How to Become a Survivor (the horror of real incest, emotional incest, ritual abuse and multiple personalities); (2) The Memory Maze (for and against repression, neuroscience and repressed memories, common-sense conclusions); (3) How to Believe the Unbelievable (hypnosis, age regression, cognitive dissonance and group contagion); (4) Multiple Personalities and Satanic Cults; (5) The Therapists; (6) The Survivors; (7) The Accused; (8) The Retractors; (9) And A Little Child Shall Lead Them (And Be Led) (the McMartin day-care scandal, believing the children, Peggy Buckey's post-traumatic stress); (10) A Brief History: The Witch Craze, Reflex Arcs, and Freud's Legacy; (11) Why Now? (pop therapy, the women's movement, media madness and sexual schizophrenia); (12) Survivors as Religion (the substitute faith, rage and the worship of self, constant rage can't last); and (13) Conclusions and Recommendations. Notes, appendix, bibliography, index