FMSF 2007 False Memory Syndrom

As we begin 2007, popular understanding of recovered memories still spans the continuum. What remains clear is that the efforts of families can make a significant difference.

based primarily on recovered memories is taking place in Pennsylvania. In 1992, Steven Slutzker was convicted by a jury of murdering John Mudd in 1975. In large part, the evidence for the crime was based on the recovered repressed memory of Mudd's son who was five-years-old at the time of the murder

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g er, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a state appeals court overturning of Slutzker's conviction.[2] The

her children. Of course, the dynamics in each family are different, but these anecdotes do show that family members can make a difference, at least in some situations. Foundation members continue to make a difference by speaking out and writing letters. Thank you.

Psychologist, Spiritual Counselor and "Soul Surgeon" Settle Case with former Patient. Lackey v. Baker and Lacey. Case No. 0303-03121, filed Feb. 2001 Circuit Ct. Multnomah, County, OR.

"Lacey required Diane to describe and then to renounce every sexual act that she had ever committed. She was compelled to do this in the presence of others, something she found humiliating and agonizing. Lacey did additional work "Ms. Lacey inquired about Diane's heritage. She wanted to know if anyo

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clinical experiences has been called into question." (p. 517) Frederick Crews also challenged Erdelyi's scholarship. "Erdelyi treats Freud's writings as holy writ, any portion of which can be quoted to prove a

Ellis in the past and reviewed the major book about it: A City Possessed by Lynley Hood. The new site contains additional information. Although a single case, the Creche

'This workshop will explore a limited number of topics in depth. After a brief review of the stage-oriented treatment of dissociative identity

Presented by The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis)

THERAPISTS, THEY FACILITATE BY LISTENING AND THUS ALLOW THINGS BURIED TO COME ONCE MORE TO THE SURFACE."

THINGS BURIED TO COME ONCE MORE TO THE SURFACE." John Mark Karr, Friday, May 14, 2005, p 54, e-mails from Boulder DA site, Bates

MORE TO THE SURFACE." John Mark Karr, Friday, May 14, 2005, p 54, e-mails from Boulder DA site, Bates

Good news and sad news fill this issue of the newsletter. Some sad news is that Harold Lief, MD, a courageous founding member of the FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, died in March. A very active member of

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g mother hoped that there might be some sort of reconciliation with the daughter. Loftus still hopes that when the people

fair review of the recovered memory literature, it fails to include important criticisms of some of the research they review and neglects entirely the extensive literature on false memories. This article is especially helpful in understanding

into the 1997 "Jane Doe" case study after widespread claims were circulated that the study proved that people could repress and then recover accurate memories of abuse. Loftus and Guyer arrived at a very different conclusion, but before they could publish

Comparison with a childhood interview videotaped 11 years before. Child Maltreatment 2, 91-112. 2. Loftus, E.F. & Guyer, M.J.(2002, May/June, July/August). Who abused Jane

4. Dolan, M. (2007, February 27). Ruling may constrain researchers. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on February 27, 2007 from

Lief, HI & Fetkewicz, JM. (1997) Construction of false memory syndrome:

and colleague's offer of $1,000 to the first person who could find an example in written works published before 1800 of a description of a person who had a repressed memory caused by a

The authors conclude that those personality features associated with dissociation (fantasy proneness, heightened suggestibility, and susceptibility to pseudomemories) may promote a positive response bias to retrospective self-reports of traumatic experience. It is possible that dissociation encourag

Bishop, B. (2007, February 13). Overcoming child trauma. The Register-Guard, p. 1.

If this issue of the newsletter seems weighted with mention of new articles, it is. Amazingly, they represent but a skimming of the many excellent reports that have recently crossed our desk. Research about traumatic memories and

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g terminology. The news from the Netherlands shows that even when we think the concept is lessening in power, it

board. The National Center for Reason and Justice (NCRJ) is another citizen organization, but it focuses on publicizing cases of wrongful sex-abuse convictions. The web site of that group makes for upsetting reading. A recent posting

showed that the veterans' memories for FMS Foundation Newsletter SUMMER 2007 Vol. 16 No. 3 traumatic events and their memories of

Jones, E. et al. (2003). Flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder: The genesis of a 20th-century diagnosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 182, 158-163.

before the First World War and were still rare during the Second World War." The authors note that although "visual hallucinations and other perceptual abnormalities were widely recorded for psychotic states" they

surely welcome this concern for potentially harmful therapies. Memories of Traumatic Events More Consistent Over Time than

for a review of the reports issued by the Health Ministry in the Netherlands that led to the disbanding. 3. In 1990, van der Hart stated: "Our Institute

Former Wisconsin and West Virginia Psychiatrist Found

2006) Ryan Ferguson has appealed the decision and the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals heard oral arguments six months ago. The video is called "Have you

DETECTIVE: Does that ring a bell? ERICKSON: Not at all. By the time of the trial, Erickson had all the details of the crime.

By the time of the trial, Erickson had all the details of the crime. Any person interested in how suggestive interviewing can happen will find this video of interest.

2004 for a more complete story of the Klassen "Inaccurate eyewitness memory

Philadelphia, PA 19103 $10.00 per DVD; Canada add $4.00; other countries add $10.00 Make checks payable to FMS

The really great news is the flood of outstanding books and papers that enriches our understanding of false memories and the relationship between memory and emotion. The really bad news is that many people have not read these

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g Counseling Service is in a time warp. The University of Illinois offers similar advice at:

"So does this research tell us how to forget bad memories? The stark answer, despite newspaper claims to the contrary, is no. We've all had the experience of cringing, and trying to distract ourselves, when a memory for an embarras

Stories of British FMS Families Fractured Families: The Untold Anguish

dissonance by Mark Pendergrast.

that we followed closely through newspaper accounts. In fact, at one point the defense called the Foundation to ask for information. Susan Polk had recovered memories that her husband

of the people involved in this sad case provides a perspective that was missing in the ongoing reports of the sensational trial. FMSF Newsletter readers will almost certainly find the first part of this book fascinating as it traces the Polk family's ready adoption of belief

Abuse No Substitute for Ghetti, S., Edelstein, R.S., Goodman, G.S., Gordon, I.M., Quas, J.A., Alexander, K.W., Redlich, A.D., Jones,

federal agents and a police officer FALL 2007 Vol. 16 No. 4 interviewed Lenora Parker for four

building for her. She moved in with her then five-year-old son and lived rent and hassle free for eleven years. During that time we had little or no communication. In the last four years

reestablished contact with her oldest brother and now seems to have a real life. Her son is a good student and a gifted artist. She is living with a stable and nice partner and she has a good

things were going well, but now, once again, they are a comfort.