Comment on Ornstein, Ceci, and Loftus (1998): Adult recollections of childhood abuse.

Comments on the article by P. A. Ornstein et al (see record 2000-13581-005) on adult recollections of childhood abuse, which is part of the report by the American Psychological Association Working Group on Investigation of Memories of Childhood Abuse (see record 2000-13581-002). Points on which they agree with Ornstein et al include the following: (1) Real occurrences and false allegations of sexual abuse are serious and potentially life-shattering for victims. (2) Memory is not perfect. (3) Remembering is facilitated by retrieval cues, contextual support, and the reexperiencing of affect similar to that which occurred at the time of an event. (4) Some people are suggestible under certain conditions. (5) Psychotherapy can be substandard, as can research. (6) When a report of memory of sexual abuse first arises in therapy, a neutral and exploratory stance by the therapist should be maintained. Points of disagreement include (1) the selective review of the memory literature, (2) the lack of attention to methodological issues, (3) the selective interpretation of the literature and the resultant drawing of implications, and (4) a serious misunderstanding of some of the concepts under discussion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)