FMSF 2010 False Memory Syndrom

Belief in the historical accuracy of "recovered repressed memories" continues its journey through our culture, its passage sometimes marked by incidents that seem discouraging, as though no progress had been made. For example,

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 benefits are astounding. A huge world opens, as does the opportunity to keep expanding our minds and knowledge.

Excerpts: Is Your Therapist A Little Behind the Times? "The practice of clinical psychology, which includes psychotherapy, is akin to medicine as it was

ACCREDITATION SYSTEM [1] ournals/index.cfm?journal=pspi&content=pspi/9_2 "We propose that clinical psychology has not fulfilled its obligations to public health because, as a field, it is deeply ambivalent

ournals/index.cfm?journal=pspi&content=pspi/9_2 "We propose that clinical psychology has not fulfilled its obligations to public health because, as a field, it is deeply ambivalent about the role of science and

FMS Foundation Newsletter WINTER 2010 Vol. 19 No. 1

2009/10/do-therapists-know-what-theyredoing-dont-bank-on-it-three-psychologistssay.html

about restructuring education of psychotherapists back in 2000. FMS Foundation Newsletter January/February 2000 Vol. 9 No. 1

Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 3. McHugh, P. public remarks. 4. Watters, E. and Ofshe, R. Therapy's delusions: The myth of the unconscious and the exploitation of today's walking worried.

2009, the Minnesota Board of Psychology allowed St. Cloud psychologist Suzanne James, Ph.D., to maintain her license even though she was found to have violated numerous laws and regulations when she encouraged a patient's delusions of satanic

2. Pabst, L. (2009, October 31). Disturbed patient, disturbing therapy. Star Tribune, A1. Pabst, L. (2009, December 7). Family: State failed patient. Star Tribune. A11.

experiences such as neglect, living with only one parent, having a mentally ill, incarcerated or drug-addicted parent, witnessing domestic violence, and sexual, physical or emotional abused. Then the researchers searched

the early 1990 lists of problems believed to be caused by sexual abuse: wearing clothes that were too tight or to be too thin; to be sexually repressed or to be sexually promiscuous (i.e.

be compared to results from a prospective study reported by Bentley and Widom (2009) involving court substantiated physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect incidents. Bentley and Widom found that a "30-year follow-up of children with documented

The issue of "repressed and recovered memories" wends its sluggish way through our culture and legal system, most often in the direction supported by science, but not always. Some recent events demonstrate how very difficult it is to change deeply-held cherished beliefs.

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 [3] The program featured Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., and James

ago. The legal system also needs to wake up to the need for multi-disciplinary practice. JD-only attorneys should never, ever be permitted to litigate 'repressed and recovered memory' cases without the supervision and assistance of specialized legal experts."

"[A] number of changes proposed for the DSM-V are likely to inadvertently place large swaths of normal human variation under the umbrella of

The stated purpose for the conference was to urge other possible victims to come forward. Specifically, investigators wished to locate the girl said to have been held captive in the basement

was to urge other possible victims to come forward. Specifically, investigators wished to locate the girl said to have been held captive in the basement There were, however, other

proved more fruitful than the farm excavation. The following day, a woman came forward claiming to have been held in the basement's crawlspace for several years as a child. "She

6. Bates City Farm Search Warrant Authorization 11/9/09; Judge Frerking 7. Alumbaugh, Sheriff. (2009, November 11).

8. Krajicek, D. (2005). Serial Killers: Partners in Crime: Ricky and Dena.

13. Goleman, D. (1994, October 31). Proof Lacking for Ritual Abuse. New York Times. 14. Goodman, G. et al. (1994). Characteristics & sources of allegations of ritual child abuse. Clearing House on Child Abuse & Neglect

Personality. Washington DC. New Books: The Good and . . .

was ineffective counsel. Shanley's trial lawyer Frank Mondano was also the lawyer who represented grandparents Shirley and Ray Souza. 3. Barden, R. C. (2009, August). Brief of Amicus Curiae of the International Committee of Social, Psychiatric, Psychological, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Neu

2. King, R. (2010, January 22). Ruling in priest sex abuse case may set precedent. Indianapolis Star. Retrieved on 1/25/10 from

Some interesting legal decisions have occurred since the last newsletter. In May, a North Carolina Superior Court judge made a precedent setting ruling that testimony regarding "repressed" and "recovered" memory was to be excluded from a criminal rape trial. The decision came after a pretrial hearin

It was as difficult to understand the Arizona Court's thinking then as it has been to understand the Massachusetts Court's decision in Shanley [1]this year. Claims of "repressed and recovered" memories brought by alleged victims represent just one of many problems with witness testimony. Recall that

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 Unfortunately, people are still being accused and sometimes convicted based on testimony that is tainted, whether by

2010. Retrieved on 6/1/2010 from FMS Foundation Newsletter SUMMER 2010 Vol. 19 No. 3

articles in the series, 'The Ministry of Truth,' is a reference to George Orwell's 1984. Slate, with electronic access to thousands of readers, conducted its own study: A mass experiment in altering political memories. Five thousand

2. Perez-Pena, R. (2010, June 21) Use of eyewitnesses in Jew Jersey Courts Needs Change, Ex-Judge Says. New York Times. Retrieved on 6/21/10 from

Martin Gardner died on May 22, 2010 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was 95. Although his work spanned many areas, countless people knew about and

to shout: "Wait! When you are accused of a heinous crime, the truth or falsity of an accusation most certainly does We suspect none of the authors

To view some of the book go to:

By William Saletan, Slate Magazine. 'The Memory Doctor' is an information packed series of eight articles grounded in the memory research of

agents and a police officer interviewed FMS Foundation Newsletter SUMMER 2010 Vol. 19 No. 3 Lenora Parker for four days in a row.

Belief in Repressed Memories is

case because it was one of the few pretrial hearings on scientific evidence that did not result in a more scientific approach. Business groups say the change to a standard based on Daubert will weed out frivolous lawsuits.

No. 3 (May/June 2000) Arizona Supreme Court Allows Claims for "Repressed" Memories Logerquist v. Danforth, CV 98-0587-PR Az Sup. Ct. Apr. 2000

A remarkable number of FMS-related events have occurred since the last Newsletter issue. Most seem to move the phenomenon closer to its ultimate demise, but one, an

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 recovered memories and multiple personality disorder. (See p. 6) In the October program, not only did Oprah rehash all

From Reviews of My Lie: A True Story of False Memory by Meredith Maran

People Magazine, October 4, 2010 "In 1988 journalist Meredith Maran accused her father

until she was 17 during the summer of 2009. Indeed, the girls remained best friends and the families continued to visit each other from time to time. At no time was there ever any mention of

and my lawyers, the DA's office clearly stated that their decision was not based on legal, technical or procedural grounds. Rather, that "after further investigation by our office… we have withdrawn all charges in this case." "As you can imagine, along with

memory problem is a must-read for families who are caught in the trap of the memory wars, and for the professionals whose work influences their

agreed to release Toward because he is 80-years-old and in failing condition. She also indicated that the original accusers had moved on and did not want to participate in another trial.

2008, Volume 17 No. 2 Toward has moved to The Hague where he will live with his daughter and her husband. James' wife will join

Nathan, Frank Fuster is still in prison in Florida and the Daniel and Francis Keller are still in prison in Texas. Nathan says that the National Center for Reason and Justice is still learning about non-daycare cases from the period. One such case can be found at

Covenant Communications, Inc. (2010) Tiffany Fletcher begins her memoir with an incident that took place when she was a senior in high school in

of a Recovered Memory Trial, Assisted by Computer Search for

Friedman now contends that he lied when he confessed to sexually abusing children in computer classes. The Court denied Friedman's appeal on a technicality not on the merits of the case. The Court wrote that Friedman failed to meet a one-year submission deadline. The case was