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Before: Repressed memory is a condition of memory loss in which memories have either been dissociated from awareness or repressed by motivated forgetting. These memories are blocked out due to their painful or traumatic nature.

The existence of repressed memories is a controversial topic in psychology; some studies have concluded that it can occur in victims of trauma, while others dispute it. According to some psychologists repressed memories can be recovered through therapy. Other psychologists dispute this, arguing that seemingly recovered memories can be false memories that incorporate outside influences, such as suggestions from a therapist. According to the American Psychological Association, it is not currently possible to distinguish a true repressed memory from a false one without corroborating evidence.

Repressed memories are not the same as amnesia, which is a term for any instance in which memories are either not stored in the first place (such as with traumatic head injuries when short term memory does not transfer to long term memory) or forgotten. Repressed memory syndrome is often compared to psychogenic amnesia, and some sources equate the two.

According to proponents of the existence of repressed memories, they may sometimes be recovered years or decades after the event, most often spontaneously, triggered by a particular smell, taste, or other identifier related to the lost memory, or via suggestion during psychotherapy.

Proposed After: Repressed memory is a condition where a memory has been unconsciously blocked by an individual due to the high level of stress or trauma contained in that memory. Even though the individual cannot recall the memory, it may still be affecting them consciously. The existence of repressed memories is a controversial topic in psychology; some studies have concluded that it can occur in victims of trauma, while others dispute it. According to some psychologists, repressed memories can be recovered through therapy. Other psychologists argue that this is in fact rather a process through which false memories are created by blending actual memories and outside influences. Furthermore, some psychologists believe that repressed memories are considered a cultural symptom because there is no written proof of its existence before the 1800s. According to the American Psychological Association, it is not currently possible to distinguish a true repressed memory from a false one without corroborating evidence. The term repressed memory actually derived from the term dissociative amnesia, which is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DMS-V) as “an inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness”. Amnesia is referred to any instance in which memories stored in the long-term memory are completely or partially forgotten, usually due to brain injury. According to proponents of the existence of repressed memories, they may sometimes be recovered years or decades after the event, most often spontaneously, triggered by a particular smell, taste, or other identifier related to the lost memory, or via suggestion during psychotherapy.

History

Before: The concept of repressed memory originated with Sigmund Freud in his 1896 essay Zur Ätiologie der Hysterie ("On the etiology of hysteria"). Freud abandoned the concept sometime between 1897 and 1905, replacing it during 1920–1923 with his impulse-based concept of ego, super-ego, and id.

Proposed After: There is no documented writing about repressed memories or sometimes referred to as, dissociative amnesia, before the 1800s'. The concept of repressed memory originated with Sigmund Freud in his 1896 essay Zur Ätiologie der Hysterie ("On the etiology of hysteria"). One of the studies published in his essay, involved a young woman by the name of, Anna O. Among her many ailments, she suffered from stiff paralysis on the right side of her body. Freud stated her symptoms to be attached to psychological traumas. The painful memories had separated from her consciousness and has brought harm to her body. Freud used hypnosis to treat Anna O. She is reported to have gained slight mobility in her right side. Freud's repressed memory theory joined his philosophy of psychoanalysis. Repressed memory has remained a heavily debated topic inside of Freud's psychoanalysis philosophy.

Amnesia

Before: Amnesia is partial or complete loss of memory that goes beyond mere forgetting. Often it is temporary and involves only part of a person's experience. Amnesia is often caused by an injury to the brain, for instance after a blow to the head, and sometimes by psychological trauma. Anterograde amnesia is a failure to remember new experiences that occur after damage to the brain; retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories of events that occurred before a trauma or injury. For a memory to become permanent (consolidated), there must be a persistent change in the strength of connections between particular neurons in the brain. Anterograde amnesia can occur because this consolidation process is disrupted; retrograde amnesia can result either from damage to the site of memory storage or from a disruption in the mechanisms by which memories can be retrieved from their stores. Many specific types of amnesia are recognised, including:

• Infantile (childhood) amnesia, the normal inability to recall events from early childhood. There are various theories about this; some believe that language development is important for efficient storage of long term memories, some believe that early memories do not persist because the brain is still developing.
• Hysterical amnesia (dissociative Fugue or fugue amnesia), a rare condition linked to severe psychological trauma. It is characterised by epidode(s) of "an inability to recall some or all of one's past and either the loss of one's identity or the formation of a new identity occur with sudden, unexpected, purposeful travel away from home." Usually, the memory returns within a few days, although memory of the trauma may remain incomplete.

The form of amnesia that is linked with recovered memories is dissociative amnesia (formerly known as psychogenic amnesia). This results from a psychological cause, not by direct damage to the brain, and is a loss of memory of significant personal information, usually about traumatic or extremely stressful events. Usually this is seen as a gap or gaps in recall for aspects of someone's life history, but with severe acute trauma, such as during wartime, there can be a sudden acute onset of symptoms

Proposed after:

Amnesia is partial or complete loss of memory that goes beyond mere forgetting. Often it is temporary and involves only part of a person's experience. Amnesia is often caused by an injury to the brain, for instance after a blow to the head, and sometimes by psychological trauma. Anterograde amnesia is a failure to remember new experiences that occur after damage to the brain; retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories of events that occurred before a trauma or injury. For a memory to become permanent (consolidated), there must be a persistent change in the strength of connections between particular neurons in the brain. Anterograde amnesia can occur because this consolidation process is disrupted; retrograde amnesia can result either from damage to the site of memory storage or from a disruption in the mechanisms by which memories can be retrieved from their stores. Many specific types of amnesia are recognized, including: • Infantile (childhood) amnesia, is described as the inability to recall memories from the first three years of life. Sigmund Freud was the first to observe this phenomenon and realized that not only do humans not remember anything from birth to three years, but they also have “spotty” recollection of anything occurring from three to seven years of age. There are various theories as to why this occurs: some believe that language development is important for efficient storage of long-term memories; others believe that early memories do not persist because the brain is still developing. • Hysterical amnesia (dissociative Fugue or fugue amnesia), a rare condition linked to severe psychological trauma. It is characterized by episode(s) of traveling away from home and creating a new identity. Also, it cannot be explained by multiple personality disorder or biological reasons. Usually, the memory returns within a few days, although memory of the trauma may remain incomplete. The form of amnesia that is linked with recovered memories is dissociative amnesia (formerly known as psychogenic amnesia). This results from a psychological cause, not by direct damage to the brain, and is a loss of memory of significant personal information, usually about traumatic or extremely stressful events. Usually this is seen as a gap or gaps in recall for aspects of someone's life history, but with severe acute trauma, such as during wartime, there can be a sudden acute onset of symptoms.

Criticisms

Before: The existence of repressed memory recovery has not been accepted by mainstream psychology, nor unequivocally proven to exist, and some experts in the field of human memory feel that no credible scientific support exists for the notions of repressed/recovered memories. One research report states that a distinction should be made between spontaneously recovered memories and memories recovered during suggestions in therapy. A common criticism is that a recovered memory is tainted by, or a product of, the process of recovery or the suggestions used in that process.

Proposed After: The existence of repressed memory recovery has not been accepted by mainstream psychology, nor unequivocally proven to exist, and some experts in the field of human memory feel that no credible scientific support exists for the notions of repressed/recovered memories.Revisiting the memory wars: repressed/recovered memory and dissociation; ABC TV, Catalyst, 22 Sept. 2011.</ref> One research report states that a distinction should be made between spontaneously recovered memories and memories recovered during suggestions in therapy. A common criticism is that a recovered memory is tainted by, or a product of, the process of recovery or the suggestions used in that process.

Many critiques believe that memories may be distorted and false. Critique, Elizabeth F. Loftus questions the concept of repressed memories and their possibility of them being accurate. E.F. Loftus focuses on techniques that therapists use in order to help the patients recover their memory. Such techniques include; age regression, guided visualization, trance writing, dream work, body work, and hypnosis. E.F. Loftus' research indicates that repressed memory faces problems, such as memory alteration. In one case a teenage boy was able to “conjure a memory of an event that never occurred.” If a stable person could be influenced to remember an event that never occurred, a emotionally stressed person is shown to be more susceptible in Loftus's research.

E.F. Loftus research indicates that repressed memory faces problems such as memory alteration. In one case a teenage boy was able to “conjure a memory of an event that never occurred.” If a stable person could be influenced to remember an event that never occurred, imagine how an emotionally stressed person would react under pressure from a therapist to recover memory.

Critiques, state that therapists are the main cause for false repressed memories. In many cases, therapists have been sued by individuals who claim that they have been falsely accused of child abuse. A therapist can pressure their patients in such a way that causes patients to remember abuse that never occurred. For an example, a private investigator posing as a patient saw a therapist regarding nightmares and trouble sleeping. On the third visit the therapist told the investigator that she was an incest survivor. In another case, a cable news network employee with a hidden camera complained about feeling depressed and having relationship problems. The therapist diagnosed the patient as a incest survivor. When she returned for her second session, the therapist linked her lack of memory to a trauma filled event that lead to her suppressing her memory.