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Lecture 21 – Psyco 350, B1 Winter, 2011

Lecture 21 – Psyco 350, B1 Winter, 2011. N. R. Brown. Outline. Recovered Memory Controversy Two Approaches Implanting False Memories Forgetting CSA A Third Approach Memory Issues in PTSD Background. The Recovered Memory Controversy. The Recovered Memory Controversy.

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Lecture 21 – Psyco 350, B1 Winter, 2011

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  1. Lecture 21 – Psyco 350, B1Winter, 2011 N. R. Brown Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 1

  2. Outline • Recovered Memory Controversy • Two Approaches • Implanting False Memories • Forgetting CSA • A Third Approach • Memory Issues in PTSD • Background Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 2

  3. The Recovered Memory Controversy Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 3

  4. The Recovered Memory Controversy • Background: The False Memory Hypothesis • Implanting False Memory • Forgetting CSA • The “Middle Ground” Position Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 4

  5. The Recovered Memory Controversy Background: Adults report “recovering” forgotten memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Memories often recovered during therapy. Profound emotional & legal repercussions Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 5

  6. The Recovered Memory Controversy Assumptions – The Recovered (“true”) Memory Position: traumatic memories can be repressed/suppressed recovery techniques produce valid memories of real events. recovering forgotten CSA memories has therapeutic value. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 6

  7. Question Assumptions Do/can people repress/suppress memories of CSA? Can recovery techniques produce false memories? Does memory recovering CSA memories have therapeutic value? Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 7

  8. Theoretical Response Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 8

  9. Lindsay & Read (1994) Memory is fallible & subject to distortion. Relevant Phenomena: Misinformation Effect – blend facts & suggestion Source Amnesia – forget source of information Imperfect Reality Monitoring – mistaking imagined events for real ones Reconstruction – past events reconstructed from fragmentary details and schematic knowledge. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 9

  10. Clinical Practice (circa, 1990) When CSA suspected, recovery techniques employed (over sessions) Techniques: guided imagery hypnosis dream interpretation survivors’ groups uncritical acceptance of claims Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 10

  11. False Memories of CSA “Memory recovery techniques may lead some clients to create illusory memories.” -- Lindsay & Read Imagined and/or suggested events can take on a realistic vividness and detail w/ extensive memory work. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 11

  12. The False-Memory Hypothesis Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 12

  13. False Memories of CSA Step 1 – create CSA story Step 2 – elaborate on CSA story (suggestion, imagery, interpretation, hypnosis, social facilitation) Step 3 – forget or mistake origin of CSA story (source amnesia, failed reality monitoring). Implication: It should be possible to create FM in the lab. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 13

  14. Implanting False Memories Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 14

  15. Implanting FMs /w Narrative Hyman et al. (1995) Issue: Can FMs be implanted using clinical techniques? Method: Preparation: Solicit event descriptions from parents Materials: 3 “real” event descriptions 1 “false” event description (spill punch bowl at wedding) Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 15

  16. Hyman et al. (1995): Procedure Phase 1: Recall as much as possible about each event & continue to reflect outside of lab. 2-day delay Phase 2 – repeat procedure Phase 3 – repeat procedure Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 16

  17. Hyman et al. (1995): Results true memories increase across phases false memories increase across phases Phase 2 FM = 25% Accessing background knowledge predicts FM FMS for 11 or 30 Ss who accessed BK FM for 2 of 21 Ss who did not access Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 17

  18. Hyman et al (1995): Sample FM Background Knowledge Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 18

  19. Hyman et al (1995): Sample FM Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 19

  20. Hyman et al. (1995): Results Accessing background knowledge predicts FM FMs for 11 or 30 Ss who accessed BK FMs for 2 of 21 Ss who did not access BK Interpretation: suggestion + BK + source confusion FM Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 20

  21. Creating FMs w/ Photos:Wade, Garry, Read, Lindsay (2002) Method: 3 “real” childhood photos 1 doctored childhood photo Task: recall as much as possible three phases  1 week apart Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 21

  22. Creating FMs w/ Photos:Wade, Garry, Read, Lindsay (2002) Results for False Photos: 1st Interview: 30% FMs 3nd interview: 50% FM Conclusion: Photos compiling for support of generating false event and accept false memory. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 22

  23. Implanted False Memories Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 23

  24. Three Stages Required to Implant FMsHyman & Loftus (1998) Plausibility Assessment/acceptance source (family, experts) content (likelihood, consequentiality) Memory Construction (creation of a plausible imagined event) Actively relate proposed event to self-knowledge Imagery, journaling, dream interpretation Source Monitoring Error. Situational/social demands Delay Repetition Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 24

  25. Implanting FMs FM research: demonstrates FMs can be implanted refines techniques for creating FMs Ethical Question: Is it time for a moratorium on this type of work? Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 25

  26. Forgetting CSA Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 26

  27. A Prospective Study: Williams (1994) Participants: 129 women contacted 17 yrs after reported sexual abuse Age at report: 10 months to 12 years Task: 3 hr interview – questions about sexual history. NOTE: “Index” event not specifically probed Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 27

  28. Williams (1994): Results 38%failed report index event suggest repression-based forgetting of CSA very common. Victim-perpetrator relation affected recall by-stranger (82%) > by-relative (53%) recall  as degree of force  Younger victims less likely to recall event Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 28

  29. All respondents 129 – 100% remembered 80 – 62% not remembered 49 – 38% Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 29

  30. Williams (1994): Decomposing the Non-responses 38% failed to report index event. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 30

  31. All respondents 129 – 100% remembered 80 – 62% not remembered 49 – 38% other abuse 33 – 26% no other abuse 16 – 12% Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 31

  32. Williams (1994): Decomposing the Non-responses 38% failed to report index event. But: 68% (33/49) of non-responders report other abuse. Non-repression based explanations schematization retrieval (motivational) failure coding mismatch Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 32

  33. All respondents 129 – 100% remembered 80 – 62% not remembered 49 – 38% other abuse 33 – 26% no other abuse 16 – 12% under 3 yrs 5 – 4% 3 or older 11 – 8.5% Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 33

  34. Williams (1994): Decomposing the Non-responses Thus, “Pure” failure to report CSA relatively uncommon (8.5%): “failure to report” may reflect: willingness to disclose forgetting Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 34

  35. Prospective Study – Replication Goodman et al (2003) n = 168; failure to report = 10% Alexander et al (2005) Memory for CSA  w/ severity of trauma Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 35

  36. Main Points FMs can be implanted. CSA can be forgotten, but generally is not. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 36

  37. A Third Perspective Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 37

  38. Three Views • Repressed Memory View • Traumatic Dissociative Amnesia underlies ALL recovered memories. • False Memory View • ALL recovered memories are implanted • Middle Ground (Schooler, McNally, Geraerts) • CSA events can be forgotten and later recalled • Repression/dissociative processes not required/involved Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 38

  39. Middle Ground Three States re: CSA memory 1. Continuous Memory • Discontinues Memories 2. Spontaneous recovery 3. During-therapy recovery Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 39

  40. Middle Ground: Evidence • Corroborated case studies exist (Schooler) • Between-group corroboration rates (Geraerts et al, 2007) 45% -- continuous group (n=71) 37% -- spontaneous group (n=41) 0% -- recall-in-therapy group (n=16) • Rated-surprise: spontaneous >> recalled-in-therapy Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 40

  41. Characteristics of Spontaneous Recovery(McNally, 2007) Modal nature of recovered abuse event • Victim’s age: 7 or 8 • Non-violent molestation • Perpetrator: close relative • (Recalled) initial reaction • “confused and upset, but not terrified” • “not fully understood… as sexual abuse.” Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 41

  42. “Normal” Spontaneous Recovery of CSA • T1 • CSA little understood/discussed. • CSA “forgotten” like other past events • T2 • Context-cued recovery of CSA event • CSA understood as abuse, leading to... • “intense emotional distress” Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 42

  43. The Logic of Repression Assumptions: • CSA is always traumatic • Normally, traumatic events are NOT forgotten • CSA events sometimes forgotten Therefore: • Forgetting can’t be “normal” • So a special forgetting process must evoked by CSA Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 43

  44. The Logic of “Middle Ground” Assumptions: • CSA is NOT always traumatic • Memory for non-traumatic events is normally discontinuous. • CSA events sometimes forgotten Therefore: • Forgetting can be “normal” • So a special forgetting process need NOT be evoked by CSA events Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 44

  45. Summary: A Cognitive Perspective on Recovered Memories Traumatic events are well remembered. Continuous memory for CSA is normal. CSA can be forgotten & recovered. Repression/dissociation not required. Spontaneous CSA memories more credible than recalled-in-therapy memories. Because, memory recovery techniques can produce false memories. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 45

  46. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder:Background Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 46

  47. DSM-IV Criterion A The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present:  (1 – The Event) The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others (2 – Peritraumatic Reaction) the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 47

  48. DSM-IV Criteria B-F B. reexperiencing of the traumatic event C. avoidance of stimuli associated w/ trauma and numbing of general responsiveness D. increased arousal symptoms present for more than 1 month clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 48

  49. Prevalence Traumatic events “common” In US, experienced by 50%-60% of population PTSD symptoms in ≈ 10% of population Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 49

  50. Risk Factors Previous Traumatic Experiences History of Abuse Family History of PTSD or Depression History of Substance Abuse Poor Coping Skills Lack of Social Support Ongoing Stress Sex Neuroticism Psyco 350 Lec #21– Slide 50

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