Repressed memories: True and false - The Psychological Record

"Repressed memories: True and false": Erratum. Reisner, Andrew D.

AB Reports an error in the original article by A. D. Reisner (The Psychological Record, 1996[Fal], Vol 46[4], 563579). On page 569, third paragraph, third line, the number should read 30%, not 80%. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in PA, record 84-08150). Reviews the literature, based on experimental evidence for repression and empirical support for repressed memories, on the validity of recovered repressed memories of abuse and the damages that can be done when false accusations of abuse result from false memories. Skeptics have provided important data and cogent arguments, yet the more extreme skeptical assertions, that repression itself may not exist, and that corroborated cases of recovered repressed memory do not exist, are not justified. Although recovered repressed memories can be valid, false memories can also occur. The author questions whether uncorroborated repressed memory evidence should be considered sufficiently reliable for use in litigation and criminal matters.