Memory Distortion and False Memory Creation

Abstract

Scientific work on memory distortion has captured the attention of the the wider mental health field, of the legal profession, and of the general public. One reason is this: In the last decade, hundreds if not thousands of patients have emerged from psychotherapy accusing their fathers and mothers, their uncles and grandfathers, their former neighbors, their former teachers and therapists, and countless others, of sexually abusing them years before. The patients often claim that they have repressed or dissociated the "memories" until various therapeutic interventions excavated the mental contents and made their presence known. After recovering these new memories, patients have confronted their alleged abusers, and sometimes taken them to court, forcing them to pay sizable sums in damages. In many cases, accused people have found themselves dragged through the criminal justice system, and occasionally, to their shock, sent off to prison.