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From: "Alex Constantine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Lloyd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: "Kris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Lynn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: FMSF & CIA
Date: Thursday, September 14, 2000 4:16 AM
Toward Freedom
Progressive Perspective on World Events
August 1998
EDITORIAL
The Politics of Memory
Debate about the legitimacy of recovered memories related to childhood
sexual abuse is intense and often angry. Some assert that such traumatic
experiences can be repressed for long periods and later recovered, either
spontaneously or via therapy. Others say the recovered memories are largely
fictitious, the product of therapeutic suggestion and the reinforcement of
popular culture. Itıs also a political struggle, pitting those who believe
that the abuse is widespread against equally adamant critics who claim that
therapists and authors exploit the issue by encouraging what they call false
memories.
In May, TF explored one aspect of this dispute in an article focusing on the
False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF), which provides support to people
accused of abuse and calls attention to unethical therapy. The article
looked at the past participation of certain FMSF advisors in questionable
"mind control" projects. It also suggested that some foundation activities,
along with frequent lawsuits, have a chilling effect on the willingness of
therapists to treat real victims.
Upset by this viewpoint, Foundation Founder-Director Pamela Freyd charged
that the article was an inaccurate, McCarthy-like attack that seriously
misrepresented her organizationıs purpose. The letter of another critic,
Mark Pendergrast, who wrote a book supporting the FMSF position, was printed
in June. In this issue, we present his view more fully, in hopes of
encouraging discussion about the issues. But the criticism of our coverage
deserves further comment, as does the thrust of Pendergrastıs article.
Among Pamela Freydıs concerns was our charge that former "intelligence
complex" operatives serve on the foundationıs advisory board. We had
"grossly misrepresented the life-time work of these researchers," she wrote.
So, letıs consider one of them - Louis Joylon West, an expert on hypnosis
and brainwashing who has excellent credentials.
The evidence is solid that West conducted research under contract with the
CIA, including LSD experiments and work on "the psychology of dissociated
states." He later attempted, unsuccessfully, to create a research center for
experiments with "psycho-technology," proposing to use youngsters from Black
and Chicano areas as primary subjects. More recently, he conducted an
experiment in which patients were taken off medication - without clear
permission - and allowed to relapse. One committed suicide; another tried to
kill his parents. Letıs just say heıs not the best person to cry foul about
therapeutic abuse.
While some therapists certainly make misleading suggestions to patients,
itıs a big leap to the conclusion that most recovered memories are false. In
fact, research indicates that itıs quite difficult to implant a memory if
nothing happened. Plus, most adults donıt rediscover such traumas while in
therapy. Take Frank Fitzpatrick, who repressed his abuse by Father James
Porter, but later remembered without therapy or hypnosis. Porter ultimately
confessed to molesting over 50 youngsters. Clearly, many people do
experience selective amnesia - sometimes for long periods - after traumatic
experiences.
In his article, Pendergrast makes a number of assertions. No convincing
cases of massive repression have surfaced, he claims, and virtually no one
displays multiple personalities without coaching. The battle over both
"appears to be over," he concludes. Yet, several clinical surveys suggest
that some abuse victims do experience either full or partial amnesia about
abuse, and dissociative identity disorder (DID) - the current label for what
used to be called multiple personality disorder (MPD) - remains an accepted
diagnosis, backed by research and clinical experience.
Another argument made by Pendergrast and some who feel wrongly accused of
abuse is that popular culture and books such as The Courage to Heal helped
manufacture an epidemic of false memories. On the other hand, they believe
that books like The Myth of Repressed Memory simply assist people in finding
the truth. But reality may be more complex. A person who supposedly recovers
a memory of abuse, then later retracts it, must be highly suggestible, one
way or the other. But that doesnıt mean a therapist created the memory, or
that the abuse was complete fantasy. A retraction also can be influenced by
suggestion.
Memory is obviously subjective and fallible, and some clients are wrongfully
manipulated. In such cases, the FMSF has been effective in redressing abuse.
But the claim that, since some recovered memories prove inaccurate or even
false, virtually all must be invented is quite sweeping. That argument,
unfortunately, also provides convenient cover for some genuine perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the dispute itself has opened yet another arena for opportunists
and experts on coercive persuasion, who have much to gain from discounting
memories of abuse. In short, the battle isnıt quite over yet.
- Greg Guma
Back to the August 1998 Table of Contents
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