Dissociation : Vol. 9, No. 4, p. 232-243 : Delayed memories of child abuse: part II: an overview of research findings relevant to understanding their reliability and suggestibility
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Date
1996-12
Authors
Bowman, Elizabeth S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ridgeview Institute and the International Society for the Study of Dissociation
Abstract
This article reviews data from four areas of memory research which are clinically relevant to understanding the reliability and suggestibility of delayed memories of abuse in dissociative disorder patients. Research supports the suggestibility of eyewitness memory for non-dramatic events, but not for personally experienced trauma. Hypnosis has been found to increase memory suggestibility and confidence in correct and incorrect memories in laboratory studies, while the accuracy of hypnotically recalled memories in psychotherapy have been highly supported by corroboration. High hypnotizability, however, appears more important than hypnosis in producing laboratory pseudomemories. Autobiographical memory research indicates that the reliability of adulthood memories prior to age three is uncertain, but some traumatic memories from age two persist. Accurate behavioral memories of trauma may persist when verbal ones are absent. Interview techniques greatly affect memory suggestibility, with free recall producing the least suggestibility. Therapists can minimize memory distortions by educating patients about memory reliability, using open-ended questions, avoiding hypnotic recall, using active memory source monitoring, and supportively exploring the reliability of emerging memories.
Description
p. 232-243