What is your opinion regarding repressed memories?

Question

My friend swears due to counseling that she was molested when she was younger. I have a hard time trusting repressed memories due to a history of shrinks coaching and planting erroneous information. What do you think...??

I haven't voiced my distrust of repressed memories to her. I think only a cad would do so. I am simply a sympathetic friend just trying to be there for her.

I have only voiced my suspicion of repressed memories here...

Answer 1

It depends. I beleive in repressed memories. But I also know the power of the subconscience mind. It actually doesn't know the difference between reality and fiction. That's why dreams seem so real and cause you to wake up in a cold sweat, and also why if we continuously lie to ourselves, we will begin to beleive those lies. So because of that, it is possible to say that you remember something that never really happened, if enough information was implanted into your head over a long enough period of time. And you will actually beleive it happened. I knew a woman who told her 7 yr old son over and over that he was molested by his stepdad. She told him this long enough that in court, he testified this, and had the story so memorized that he actually beleived it happened.This was all to get money, of course. It's possible. Think about her motives for saying this. Do you think she's seeking attention( has she been telling quite a few people about it?), or does she talk to you really sincerely about it, and only to you, or the people she is close to and trusts? Usually people who are molested don't like to talk about it, they feel ashamed. Try to figure out what her motives for telling you are- to get attention, or does she really want your help dealing with this, or is there some reason why she may want to get back at the person she says molested her by creating this story? It's possible she is making it up, but also possible that she's telling the truth, don't dismiss it so easily. The only thing you can really do is to be there for her emotionally as a friend, because you really don't know the truth, only she does, but don't get involved too deeply in the rest, stay out of it. Stay neutral, don't take sides (don't begin to despise the person she is blaming for this, since you don't know the truth.)Don't help her if she tries to take legal action, etc., because it is a part of her past you aren't involved with. Just be there as a friend, and just do that by listening, because it will be hard to give advice if you don't know the whole story. Good luck.

Answer 2

I just recently read a section in my psychology textbook about repressed memories. It is an extremely controversial idea because psychologists and other therapists hold a position of extreme power while in session with their clients. Some so called "repressed" memories have been found to have been totally false. Through leading people on with the right kinds of questions, you can make them remember things that haven't happened. For more information, you should review some studies of Elizabeth Loftus. She was a victim of a repressed memory of her daughter dying, and thus became a leader in the field. Your question cannot be answered without corroborative evidence about her molestation. Though I do think it would crass and rude to deny your friend's molestation without any evidence contradicting it.

Answer 3

Some individuals that have gone through traumatic times such as rape or molestation at an early childhood and gone undeterred by parents ends up as the child compressed the thoughts to an inner ID memory in the brain.

They will then associate any sexual behavior as dirty and become insensitive towards the opposite sex when they are grown and apprehensive about sex as they get older as well.

This leads to a repressed memory that eventually comes out as a time bomb and the person with the post disorder is more likely not to enjoy the pleasures of sex , but rather hate it to the point that they become dirty with it and that leads to prostitution and very nasty girls and boys that are submissive based on anger and eruption rather peace and love.

Answer 4

Yes their are repressed memories, I can remember my first short glimpse of the ceiling in the delivery room then fade to black
next memory of being a conceious being with a mama and the horror of that day and night, about a year later. No asking or planting was even subscribed by my doctor. I was just describing what my first two memories were and how the second memory was upsetting to me , i even remember the house and the name of the street.

Guess what ? the doctor was familiar with the house and the street !

Answer 5

It is always better to forget the past and care for the future. I know it is easy tosay that but not easy to practice in real life. Even than, if possible one should try to avoid the repressed memories and get oneself bust in some sort of social service orhelping the needy or reading books or going to visit places rather thanchurning old memories. One living with the repressed memories requires counciling, help and affection from others to get rid of such a past.

Answer 6

I once had an experience where I remember right up until a certain moment and right after the event occurred. It was really strange, makes me think there is something to repressed memories. The subconscious does hold allot of information.
I see what you are saying about patients being led to false memories. I think it is a very tricky issue. I think a really good therapist would not allow that to happen.

Answer 7

Gosh, I don't really know what to think about that. I think it's possible that people can have repressed memories but it's odd that they're normally only from childhood. Like people who suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome don't claim to not remember blocks of the war because it's too painful. The memories are what cause their condition.

It's also possible that shrinks and counselors can plant those ideas in your head to reach their own ends. It if their job, after all, to find a problem and "fix" it...

Answer 8

I believe repressed memories can come back to you later in life, I started having nighmres a few years back about being beaten by my mother as a child, when I told an aunt she told me a lot of things that happened to me as a child before my mon left me, then i started seein a psychologist whp explained repressed memories to me, I had more for about a year and then it just stopped. She could have been molested, and if so just be ther for her as much as you can.

Answer 9

I have a hard time believing that too. Silly example for ya, I found a diary that I had kept in high school and I could not remember half of the details that I wrote in them. I remember doing stuff but not all. Its not cuz I made up the stuff its just the memories are distorted from the truth that I had written. So as far as being molested I would think that you would never forget. But if this helps your friend to get better than dont judge her just LISTEN and be supportive.

Answer 10

I think it could be true if she came to that conclusion on her own without her counselor suggesting it to her somehow, but how would you know for sure? (There have been times I've suddenly remembered a not so nice memory from child hood and I do not go for counseling.) I am with you though, I am pretty skeptical about these things.
BUT I guess you ARE her friend so you should probably be as supportive to her as possible, right?