Moving toward a middle ground on the ‘false memory debate’: Reply to commentaries on lindsay and read

Abstract

This rejoinder to the six commentaries on Lindsay and Read (this issue) focuses primarily on responding to criticisms levelled by some of the commentators, We clarify and elaborate upon the grounds for believing that some mental health practitioners use highly suggestive memory recovery therapies and that such therapies can lead some clients to develop illusory memories or false beliefs about childhood sexual abuse. 'We also comment on Pezdek's ideas concerning signal detection theory, Morton's application of the Headed Records model to amnesia and Multiple Personality Disorder, and to Sales, Shuman, and O'Connor's discussion of courtroom standards for the admissibility of expert psychological testimony.Completion of this special issue required considerable effort over a short period of time, and the success of this endeavour is due in large measure to the eight people who developed the six commentaries and to the work of Guest Co-Editor Lisa Grossman and North American Editor Mike Pressley. The commentaries were requested and received at very short notice, a reflection of th.e substantial and urgent interest in the 'false memory debate'. We thank all of the commentators for their contributions, and for give-and-take informal discussions a,long the way, and trust that our comments here reflect our respect for their work.The six commentaries vary in the extent to which they focus on the specific claims and arguments made in the Lindsay and Read a.rticle. Ceci and Loftus directed attention to some of our points and, while in agreement with them, highlighted and added to those arguments. Morton described how the Headed Records model of memory (Morton, 1991; Morton, Hammersley, and Bekerian, 1989) can be used to explain amnesia for traumatic experiences and amnesia in Multiple Personality Disorder. Sales, Shuman, and O'Connor, and Cohler approached the topic of memory *Work on this article was supported by a grant from the Alberta Law Foundation to J. Don ReadWe thank Moira Cairnes for helpful suggestions on this manuscript.

Accusations by Adults of Childhood Sexual Abuse: a Survey of the Members of the British False Memory Society (BFMS)

“…This comment reinforces the important distinction Read and Lindsey (1994) make between beliefs and memories in relation to the phenomenon of recovered memories. A person can develop the belief that he or she has been sexually abused without having any memory of it.…”

Congruence between Adolescents' Self-Reports and Their Adult Retrospective Reports regarding Parental Discipline Practices during Their Adolescence

“…These findings were similar to previous research that has shown significant inconsistencies in reports over time (Offer, et al, 2000) and variations in the extent of accuracy over time by topic (Henry, et al 1994). In addition, studies have shown that people's perceptions and interpretations of events change over time as their lives unfold (Read & Lindsay, 1994). As noted by Brewin, Andrews, and Gotlib (1993, p. 941, the accuracy of recall of physical abuse is threatened by social influences, childhood amnesia, and the simple fallibility of memory.…”

“…This type of data would be reliable but not valid. Unreliability, or the inconsistency of a response between two measurement occasions, can occur for a number of reasons: the clarity of a memory can fade over time; personal memories rarely contain information about absolute time; individuals may redefine or reconstruct their past based on their current circumstance or influences from other people, such as therapists or siblings; appraisals of meanings of behavior may change over time (Loftus, 1982(Loftus, , 1996Aneshensel, Estrada, Hansell, & Clark, 1987;Read & Lindsay, 1994;Ceci & Bruck, 1996;Golub, et al, 2000;Schraedley, Turner, & Gotlib, 2002;Hardt & Rutter, 2004).…”

False claims about false memory research

“…Instead, they are often a fusion of imagined, real and suggested information (Lindsay & Read, 1995;Read & Lindsay, 1994;Wade, Garry, Read, & Lindsay, 2002).…”