Traumatic Memories Research Paper

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TRAUMATIC MEMORIES Traumatic Memories: Suggested, False, or Delayed but Painfully True Danielle Brummitt PSYC 2333 Developmental Psychology Jim Paton, M.A. Southeastern College April 13, 2011 TRAUMATIC MEMORIES The sirens scream in the background. Nationwide, the emergency rooms are unable to triage the patients as the massive case load strains the overcrowded hallways. An epidemic of this magnitude has never been seen in the history of modern science. Is it biological warfare? Is it a nuclear meltdown? Doctors quickly realize that the painful cries coming from these adult men and women are strangely the voices of children; children reliving the traumatic events they have suppressed for decades. The melee is further complicated…show more content…
Trauma may include physical neglect, being beaten, and various forms of sexual abuse and emotional abuse such as berating and denying nurturing and affection to a child. (Blakeney, Robert, & Meyer, 1998). What is highly debated is the delayed recall of traumatic events. “The memory scenario that evokes the greatest debate and skepticism has to do with the apparent total loss of memory for an extended period of time followed years later by delayed and detailed recollection” (Alpert, Brown, & Courtois, 1998, p. 942). How are children affected by trauma? Taylor and Weems conclude that “children may respond to traumatic events through disorganized or agitated behavior” (Taylor & Weems, 2009, p. 92). They further state that children who experience posttraumatic stress through reliving the event “may manifest such through repetitive play, reenacting the traumatic event or through recurrent upsetting dreams about the traumatic event” (Taylor & Weems, 2009, p. 92).Terr…show more content…
Loftus concludes the antithesis of Elliott. Loftus believes that because of the sheer horrific nature of the trauma, the events would be indelibly fixed into memory. Loftus theorizes that any report of delayed recall is a combination of suggestion, psychotherapy, and a motivation for financial gain. Goodman supports Loftus, adding “the accuracy of children’s testimony heavily depends on how they are interviewed” (Goodman, 1984, p. 25). To the contrary, in her journal article, No Escape When The Past Is Endless, Dr. Judith L. Alpert writes, “When there are multiple traumas or repeated abuse, children may take refuge in the defenses of denial, dissociation, and splitting. They bolster themselves for further abuse. As a consequence, ongoing horror and terror and accompanying pain may be met by psychic numbing. It is as if the child's senses and thinking apparatus are

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