Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 13, No. 1, 1996, page 28
Cook‟s retraction, much of the harm cannot be undone (Grossman &Pressley, 1994).
Similarly, during the past decade there is substantial evidence that a number of parents and
other family members have been falsely accused of incestuous childhood abuse after
decade-delayed “memories” are recovered, with disastrous consequences for the entire
family, including the family member who made the accusation (Nelson &Simpson, 1994).
It is a terrible fact that childhood sexual abuse does occur. Everyone wants its perpetrators
punished and its incidence and prevalence decreased. It used to be all too commonplace for
instances of childhood abuse, especially incestuous childhood abuse (ICA), to be “hushed
up” or ignored by families. Thus, it is understandable why patients and therapists alike may
wish to unearth any possible hidden memories of abuse that might be lurking. Further, if
one‟s therapeutic bent is to believe that psychogenic amnesia is a common response to
traumatic stress, helping patients remember childhood abuse may be seen as a necessary
prerequisite to healing (Summit, 1983). However, this view raises a number of scientific and
professional questions (cf. Loftus &Ketcham, 1994 Ofshe &Watters, 1994 Spence, 1994
Tavris, 1993).
For example, the view that psychogenic amnesia is commonplace among trauma survivors
has little scientific support, despite its popularity with the media and some professional
therapists (Lindsay &Read, 1994). Further, memory is a reconstructive process (Bartlett,
1932). Even under ideal circumstances, where alert, attentive, adult observers report what
has just occurred, memories can be altered by the way questions are phrased (Loftus,
1979). As for memories of remote events, we are all aware that memory fades over time,
and we become less certain of our memories as they age. When accurate recall is required,
we seek alternate sources of information, if they are available. When they are not available,
memory for remote events can be inaccurate. Although there are recent claims that
memories of traumatic events are stored differently from other strongly emotionally
valenced memories and may emerge unscathed through the mists of time (see van der
Kolk, 1994), there is little or no evidence of this to date (Lindsay &Read, 1994).
Iatrogenically Created Remote Memory: An Overview
The emergence over the past 15 years of what has been called by its opponents “recovered
memory” psychotherapy (Ofshe &Watters, 1994), as well as books and media events on
the topic, has generated both greatly increased reports of incest with young children and
serious debate in the scientific and therapeutic communities about the incidence and
prevalence of ICA and of iatrogenic, false memories of ICA. While these debates are not
resolved, we will discuss evidence supporting the idea that many memories of abuse
recovered after lengthy amnesia are created, not remembered, during therapy, and it is
highly likely that the “recovered” incestuous abuse episodes did not occur as historical
events. This is not surprising, as scholars of psychotherapy believe remote memories
obtained during therapy are symbolically accurate, not historically accurate. Such memories
primarily tell us about a patient‟s inner, subjective world, and may mislead us about the
outer, objective one (Spence, 1982, 1994).
Is it really possible for any form of psychotherapy to create detailed memories of childhood
sexual abuse that never occurred? Do other iatrogenic consequences frequently follow?
Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is yes. The following description of recovered
memory therapy may indicate how and why.
In recovered memory therapy, an individual, more frequently a woman, comes to a
therapist with a relatively common complaint (e.g., depression and low self-esteem).
Associating the presenting symptoms with a possible history of childhood sexual abuse, the
therapist seeks to explore whether or not forgotten sexual abuse is a causative factor. The
exploration often involves hypnotic age regression and what has been called “disguised
hypnosis” (Perry, 1995) in the form of relaxation instructions combined with guided imagery
Cook‟s retraction, much of the harm cannot be undone (Grossman &Pressley, 1994).
Similarly, during the past decade there is substantial evidence that a number of parents and
other family members have been falsely accused of incestuous childhood abuse after
decade-delayed “memories” are recovered, with disastrous consequences for the entire
family, including the family member who made the accusation (Nelson &Simpson, 1994).
It is a terrible fact that childhood sexual abuse does occur. Everyone wants its perpetrators
punished and its incidence and prevalence decreased. It used to be all too commonplace for
instances of childhood abuse, especially incestuous childhood abuse (ICA), to be “hushed
up” or ignored by families. Thus, it is understandable why patients and therapists alike may
wish to unearth any possible hidden memories of abuse that might be lurking. Further, if
one‟s therapeutic bent is to believe that psychogenic amnesia is a common response to
traumatic stress, helping patients remember childhood abuse may be seen as a necessary
prerequisite to healing (Summit, 1983). However, this view raises a number of scientific and
professional questions (cf. Loftus &Ketcham, 1994 Ofshe &Watters, 1994 Spence, 1994
Tavris, 1993).
For example, the view that psychogenic amnesia is commonplace among trauma survivors
has little scientific support, despite its popularity with the media and some professional
therapists (Lindsay &Read, 1994). Further, memory is a reconstructive process (Bartlett,
1932). Even under ideal circumstances, where alert, attentive, adult observers report what
has just occurred, memories can be altered by the way questions are phrased (Loftus,
1979). As for memories of remote events, we are all aware that memory fades over time,
and we become less certain of our memories as they age. When accurate recall is required,
we seek alternate sources of information, if they are available. When they are not available,
memory for remote events can be inaccurate. Although there are recent claims that
memories of traumatic events are stored differently from other strongly emotionally
valenced memories and may emerge unscathed through the mists of time (see van der
Kolk, 1994), there is little or no evidence of this to date (Lindsay &Read, 1994).
Iatrogenically Created Remote Memory: An Overview
The emergence over the past 15 years of what has been called by its opponents “recovered
memory” psychotherapy (Ofshe &Watters, 1994), as well as books and media events on
the topic, has generated both greatly increased reports of incest with young children and
serious debate in the scientific and therapeutic communities about the incidence and
prevalence of ICA and of iatrogenic, false memories of ICA. While these debates are not
resolved, we will discuss evidence supporting the idea that many memories of abuse
recovered after lengthy amnesia are created, not remembered, during therapy, and it is
highly likely that the “recovered” incestuous abuse episodes did not occur as historical
events. This is not surprising, as scholars of psychotherapy believe remote memories
obtained during therapy are symbolically accurate, not historically accurate. Such memories
primarily tell us about a patient‟s inner, subjective world, and may mislead us about the
outer, objective one (Spence, 1982, 1994).
Is it really possible for any form of psychotherapy to create detailed memories of childhood
sexual abuse that never occurred? Do other iatrogenic consequences frequently follow?
Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is yes. The following description of recovered
memory therapy may indicate how and why.
In recovered memory therapy, an individual, more frequently a woman, comes to a
therapist with a relatively common complaint (e.g., depression and low self-esteem).
Associating the presenting symptoms with a possible history of childhood sexual abuse, the
therapist seeks to explore whether or not forgotten sexual abuse is a causative factor. The
exploration often involves hypnotic age regression and what has been called “disguised
hypnosis” (Perry, 1995) in the form of relaxation instructions combined with guided imagery
