Suppression and Memory for Childhood Traumatic Events: Trauma Symptoms and Non‐Disclosure
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Published:2023-06-23
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ISSN:1756-8757
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Container-title:Topics in Cognitive Science
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Topics in Cognitive Science
Author:
Wu Yuerui1,
Hartman Dana1,
Wang Yan1,
Goldfarb Deborah2,
Goodman Gail S.1
Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychology University of California Davis
2. Department of Psychology Florida International University
Abstract
AbstractSelf‐reported lost memory of child sexual abuse (CSA) can be mistaken for “repressed memory.” Based on our longitudinal studies of memory and disclosure in child maltreatment victims who are now adults, we discuss findings relevant to “repressed memory cases.” We examined relations between self‐report of temporarily lost memory of CSA (subjective forgetting) and memory accuracy for maltreatment‐related experiences (objective memory). Across two studies involving separate samples, we find evidence for memory suppression rather than repression: (1) Most adults who claimed temporary lost memory of CSA reported memory suppression and clarified that they could have remembered the event if asked; (2) subjective forgetting was positively associated with accurate objective memory for maltreatment‐related experiences. Subjective forgetting was also related to increased adult trauma symptoms and related to childhood non‐disclosure of CSA. Moreover, trauma‐related psychopathology mediated the relation between non‐disclosure and subjective forgetting. Implications for psychological theory and repressed memory cases are discussed.
Funder
National Science Foundation
National Institute of Justice
Subject
Artificial Intelligence,Cognitive Neuroscience,Human-Computer Interaction,Linguistics and Language,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology