The Nature of Traumatic Memories

INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been widespread media attention given to the alleged “false memory syndrome” (FMS), a term coined by the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF) in America. The idea that a person could suddenly recall memories of being sexually abused as a child has been presented as incredible and either evidence of the suggestibility of women to other people’s ideas, bad therapy or even a deliberate conspiracy between therapists and daughters to destroy previously happy families. Given the media coverage that has been devoted to the alleged false memory syndrome and the continuing attempts in the media to discredit adult survivors of child sexual abuse, there is likely to be a climate of disbelief which has influenced professionals and laypeople to believe that it is impossible to recover memories of sexual abuse experienced during childhood.