These studies explain how it is possible for those who were abused to forget that it happened. Anyone who has read other posts on this blog would have a hard time not interpreting this statement as a direct contradiction of all previous posts. Please read the very brief article below and allow the following information to explain. Dr. McNally, who has conducted dozens of studies on memories of sexual abuse victims, says people don’t forget a trauma. They might forget something like being fondled as a child IF the fondling was not traumatic because the child did not understand the event at the time. Dr. McNally argues. "It might be disgusting, upsetting–but not terrifying, not traumatic."
Here is an article explaining that research:
Recovered Memories
of Sexual Abuse
Although no longer a major focus of our research, we have conducted studies testing cognitive mechanisms in people reporting recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. The major take-home message of our research is as follows. There appears to be no convincing evidence that people can repress (or dissociate) memories of truly traumatic events that they have encoded. However, some people who experienced childhood sexual molestation in their childhood, but who did not experience the events as traumatic, may forget their abuse for many years, yet recall it upon encountering reminders in adulthood. Interpreting their molestation through the eyes of an adult, they often experience PTSD symptoms. Accordingly, people may forget and “recover” memories of abuse that they did not experience as traumatic at the time of their occurrence. They forget the memories not because they were traumatic and thus “repressed,” but rather because they did not experience them as traumatic at the time they occurred.
Those who experience trauma, rather than suppressing that traumatic memory, find it impossible to completely forget that memory. Traumatic memories are significant to a victim precisely because they are NEVER forgotten.
Although no longer a major focus of our research, we have conducted studies testing cognitive mechanisms in people reporting recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. The major take-home message of our research is as follows. There appears to be no convincing evidence that people can repress (or dissociate) memories of truly traumatic events that they have encoded. However, some people who experienced childhood sexual molestation in their childhood, but who did not experience the events as traumatic, may forget their abuse for many years, yet recall it upon encountering reminders in adulthood. Interpreting their molestation through the eyes of an adult, they often experience PTSD symptoms. Accordingly, people may forget and “recover” memories of abuse that they did not experience as traumatic at the time of their occurrence. They forget the memories not because they were traumatic and thus “repressed,” but rather because they did not experience them as traumatic at the time they occurred.
Those who experience trauma, rather than suppressing that traumatic memory, find it impossible to completely forget that memory. Traumatic memories are significant to a victim precisely because they are NEVER forgotten. Related Articles:
McNally, R. J. (2012). Searching for repressed memory. In R. F. Belli (Ed.), True and false recovered memories: Toward a reconciliation of the debate (pp. 121-147). Vol. 58: Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. New York: Springer.
http://mcnallylabcom.ipage.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/mcnally-2012-nebraska-repression1.pdf
https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/02/29/oscar-hangover-special-why-spotlight-is-a-terrible-film
Grandfather visits Grace and children prior to memory based therapy in 2015.
McNally, R. J. (2012). Searching for repressed memory. In R. F. Belli (Ed.), True and false recovered memories: Toward a reconciliation of the debate (pp. 121-147). Vol. 58: Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. New York: Springer.
http://mcnallylabcom.ipage.com/beta/wp-content/uploads/mcnally-2012-nebraska-repression1.pdf
https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/02/29/oscar-hangover-special-why-spotlight-is-a-terrible-film
https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/02/29/oscar-hangover-special-why-spotlight-is-a-terrible-film
Grandfather visits Grace and children prior to memory based therapy in 2015.
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