False Allegations Research Paper
False Memories
The Origins of False Allegations
Bilqis Sanchez
Introduction to Psychology, PSY-101-10
Professor Dunovant
November 26, 2013
Abstract
For many years now, there has been numerous victims of sexual abuse, both male and female: adults, teens, and children. However, some of these allegations might not have, and have never been true. Some may have accused innocent people of sexual crimes that they have not committed on purpose, while others are simply disturbed mentally and resort to fabricating such allegations. Others may attempt to make these false allegations against innocent people simply to get that person into trouble; or because of prejudice and stereotyping. Those who do this knowingly, …show more content…
do not know the effects of it, and so not only may it harm them, but the other person as well. Most of these false memories begin with faux therapists who input such memories into one’s head.
False Memories
The Origins of false Allegations Where do these false analogies initiate? The history of the interface between the psychologies of childhood memories was a notorious one. (Bjorklund, 2000) Sometimes, many form repressed memories because they feel anxiety. Anxiety can perform a big role in situations of false memories, because some may begin to feel as if though they were harmed for the simplest of reasons. Anxiety causes one to feel worried, and stressed. Once the anxiety begins, it then extends into rumors. For instance; a parent may begin to feel as though his/her child had been sexually abused for no potential reasoning. The parent may believe that while their child was away with their mother/father that something could have happened. Then the questioning begins: such as, “has anyone ever touched you in your private places? And whether you have coerced into touching someone else’s private places?” (Campbell, 1998) If this such entity has never happened, then the child will begin to feel confused because he/ she does not may be able to understand why the parent is asking such questions. These are the parents forming repressed memories, merely because they felt as if something happened. “Repressed memories may reappear spontaneously or through flashbacks stimulated by a triggered event.” (Monica, 1994) A situation such as sexual abuse could have happened to the parent, and so they suppose that it can happen to the child as well. “When anxious parents and concerned others gravitate into loyal alliances, the anxiety of the parents is no longer confined within each of them.” (Campbell, 1998)
Why does False Allegations happen? Many people may construct repressed memories to get others into trouble, sort of say. Children in particular, have a history of doing so because either they were told to or because they felt it was an easier way to get them past their difficulties in both the past and present. For example, a parent may have heard that his/her daughter had begun to have sexual intercourse, and so he/she has decided to confront their daughter on the situation. However, in order for the daughter avoid getting into any trouble, she cries rape. Now, she believes that the situation will be left as it is, but little does she know that her mother/father has decided to file a sexual report against the individual who had supposedly “raped her.” From then on, the situation is taken to court, and she has now involved others. She ruined her alleged “rapist” reputation and now she is the talk of the town. Although she did not intend for this to happen, she still caused everyone an insurmountable amount of trouble because of her lies to exclude herself from trouble. This “repressed memory” was not because of trauma that had occurred before or because of a feeling of anxiety, it was meant to get one self out of trouble.
Many people do not know what rape is and what kind of trouble they can get someone into. Other times, these false allegations may happen because one is forced to say such things. A child’s mind is easily influenced, therefore you can input any sort of information into their heads and have them believe that it did happen. Although, you may be doing this for your own good, you are really harming the child much more than you are the suspect. Parents are much more targets of false allegations because of this. One parent may tell their child to say that the other parent had sexually abused him/ her in their favor. Stunned and overwhelmed, the child promptly began to report what the one parent wanted to hear. (Campbell, 1998) We ask, do we let these false allegations happen because we are easily influenced or weak? Or do we do these things for our own good, and to make us seem as the victims. Although, suggesting that a person’s memory may be false, should not imply that he or she is deliberately lying, but in cases like these, he or she is definitely stating false information for his or her own good. (Monica, 1994) …show more content…
Stereotyping
However, many false allegations can be made due to stereotyping. “Prejudice and bigotry can be considered particularly ugly botches staining the pages of our nation’s history.” (Campbell, 1998) Many parents make their children believe different things about other races, cultures: yet, their children might believe such things on their own as they get older and are familiar with our world more often. Stereotyping has been around for many years, but since then it has definitely gotten worst.
We may find some stereotypes to be quite humorous, but other stereotypes are there for us to have some sort of hate, and/or fear against that race or culture. Believe it or not, but stereotyping can definitely be one of the origins of false allegations and why they begin to have these false memories and traumas of sexual abuse. For example, some main races who are stereotyped to be fearful or harmful would be: African American, Hispanics/Latinos Americans, Jewish Americans, and Arabic Americans.
Most street gangs throughout America are believed to be dominated by African American males. Although there are street gangs that have originators of other ethnicities, African American males still manage to be a part of and have major impact on the welfare of the gang(s) itself. Hence the “African Americans are dangerous because of their violent and aggressive nature “stereotype. (Campbell, 1998)
Another minority group that is stereotyped a lot is Hispanic Americans. However, this one can be a bit contradicting. You see, some would say “Hispanic Americans are lazy and unreliable employees who use any excuse to avoid work,” (Campbell, 1998) while others would beg to differ because those of Mexican American descent are often portrayed in television shows on various networks working extremely hard for a living, doing next to nothing because they’re in this country illegally. For years upon years, Jews have been stereotyped tremendously. They’re often seen in comics and modern day propaganda counting money or anything pertaining to currency and them making a profit from it. Which is why some may say “Jewish Americans regularly walk over other people pursuing their ambitions of upward mobility.” (Campbell, 1998) Jewish Americans are said to be cheap and very mean people.
Last but not least, the Arab American stereotype. Because of their strong beliefs and personalities, Arabs have a tendency and are notoriously known for terrorism. A prime example would be 9/11 and the savages that were behind it. Not saying that because they’re of Arab descent, but that’s not what you thought at first, right? They’d be savages in my eyes no matter what race they were. They make us believe that “Arab Americans are religious zealots whose affinity for terrorism poses a persistent danger to our welfare.” (Campbell, 1998)
I believe that it is not fair to neither of these races to be treated and viewed in such a way. Therefore, due to these horrific stereotypes we’re all meant to believe that these people are mean and cruel and can harm us for no reason at all. Parents tell their children to look out for the African Americans, because they could rape them or kidnap them. So most children if they become victims of such, they would automatically accuse any African American male before accusing a Caucasian male.
The Effects of False Allegations
As a result of increased public awareness of suggestive therapeutic techniques and the mechanisms of childhood memories, the number of repressed memory cases declined, and reactionary cases, in which clients sued their therapists for false-memory implantation, increased. (Bjorklund, 2000)
Each year there are about 238,686 victims of sexual abuse; both men and women: children, teenagers, and adults. Every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted, even in the slightest way. Some of these victims report their assaults, some keep it a secret, and others create repressed memories that make them claim false allegations. Many who are forced to claim such allegations are due to the fact of stereotyping and prejudice, and even feelings of anxiety.
False memories can simply start off with a simple rumor, that you may begin to believe after a while or from someone who planted these things into your head. False memories can begin with anyone and anywhere. However, many do not know the consequences that follow behind false allegations. There are many effects that come with this sort of situation.
Facing the truth No one would like to admit that they were wrong or that they lied, especially about such things as sexual abuse.
Some may still believe that it may have happened and are in need of serious therapy to help them recover and others are just too embarrassed or ashamed to say what they have done. Situations like these have been happening for over a couple of years, so clearly they are understandable. As I stated in my previous paragraphs, many of these false allegations are either triggered by childhood trauma, anxiety, and even therapists. One who is borderline tenuous sense of being self-made, highly suggestible, are often inconsistent and occasionally dishonest. These are people who often say things to please someone into what they want to hear, and most of the time is because they are looking for explanations for their present difficulties. (Calof, 1998) Such as, getting their selves out of trouble, as I stated in my previously. One can ruin another’s reputation, their life, can develop a feeling of embarrassment, and can feel shameful. Although they may develop these sort of feelings, it is rather important to face the facts. If claiming false allegations of sexual abuse was on purpose then you will have suffer the consequences, in a bad way. If the false allegations were just traumas that triggered your mind, then there is help provided to help you with this sort of
situation.
References
Bjorklund, D. F. (2000). False-Memory Creation in Children and Adults: Theory, Research, and Implications. Mahwah, NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates .
Calof, D. (1998). Child Sexual Abuse and False Memory Syndrome. Amherst, NY : Prometheus Books .
Campbell, T. W. (1998). Smoke and Mirrors: The Devastating Effect of False Sexual Abuse Claims . New York : Insight Books.
Monica, H. L. (1994). The Necessity of Memory Experts for the Defense in Prosecutions For Child Sexual Abused Based on Repressed Memories. American Law Review, 69-75.
The Origins of False Allegations
Bilqis Sanchez
Introduction to Psychology, PSY-101-10
Professor Dunovant
November 26, 2013
Abstract
For many years now, there has been numerous victims of sexual abuse, both male and female: adults, teens, and children. However, some of these allegations might not have, and have never been true. Some may have accused innocent people of sexual crimes that they have not committed on purpose, while others are simply disturbed mentally and resort to fabricating such allegations. Others may attempt to make these false allegations against innocent people simply to get that person into trouble; or because of prejudice and stereotyping. Those who do this knowingly, …show more content…
do not know the effects of it, and so not only may it harm them, but the other person as well. Most of these false memories begin with faux therapists who input such memories into one’s head.
False Memories
The Origins of false Allegations Where do these false analogies initiate? The history of the interface between the psychologies of childhood memories was a notorious one. (Bjorklund, 2000) Sometimes, many form repressed memories because they feel anxiety. Anxiety can perform a big role in situations of false memories, because some may begin to feel as if though they were harmed for the simplest of reasons. Anxiety causes one to feel worried, and stressed. Once the anxiety begins, it then extends into rumors. For instance; a parent may begin to feel as though his/her child had been sexually abused for no potential reasoning. The parent may believe that while their child was away with their mother/father that something could have happened. Then the questioning begins: such as, “has anyone ever touched you in your private places? And whether you have coerced into touching someone else’s private places?” (Campbell, 1998) If this such entity has never happened, then the child will begin to feel confused because he/ she does not may be able to understand why the parent is asking such questions. These are the parents forming repressed memories, merely because they felt as if something happened. “Repressed memories may reappear spontaneously or through flashbacks stimulated by a triggered event.” (Monica, 1994) A situation such as sexual abuse could have happened to the parent, and so they suppose that it can happen to the child as well. “When anxious parents and concerned others gravitate into loyal alliances, the anxiety of the parents is no longer confined within each of them.” (Campbell, 1998)
Why does False Allegations happen? Many people may construct repressed memories to get others into trouble, sort of say. Children in particular, have a history of doing so because either they were told to or because they felt it was an easier way to get them past their difficulties in both the past and present. For example, a parent may have heard that his/her daughter had begun to have sexual intercourse, and so he/she has decided to confront their daughter on the situation. However, in order for the daughter avoid getting into any trouble, she cries rape. Now, she believes that the situation will be left as it is, but little does she know that her mother/father has decided to file a sexual report against the individual who had supposedly “raped her.” From then on, the situation is taken to court, and she has now involved others. She ruined her alleged “rapist” reputation and now she is the talk of the town. Although she did not intend for this to happen, she still caused everyone an insurmountable amount of trouble because of her lies to exclude herself from trouble. This “repressed memory” was not because of trauma that had occurred before or because of a feeling of anxiety, it was meant to get one self out of trouble.
Many people do not know what rape is and what kind of trouble they can get someone into. Other times, these false allegations may happen because one is forced to say such things. A child’s mind is easily influenced, therefore you can input any sort of information into their heads and have them believe that it did happen. Although, you may be doing this for your own good, you are really harming the child much more than you are the suspect. Parents are much more targets of false allegations because of this. One parent may tell their child to say that the other parent had sexually abused him/ her in their favor. Stunned and overwhelmed, the child promptly began to report what the one parent wanted to hear. (Campbell, 1998) We ask, do we let these false allegations happen because we are easily influenced or weak? Or do we do these things for our own good, and to make us seem as the victims. Although, suggesting that a person’s memory may be false, should not imply that he or she is deliberately lying, but in cases like these, he or she is definitely stating false information for his or her own good. (Monica, 1994) …show more content…
Stereotyping
However, many false allegations can be made due to stereotyping. “Prejudice and bigotry can be considered particularly ugly botches staining the pages of our nation’s history.” (Campbell, 1998) Many parents make their children believe different things about other races, cultures: yet, their children might believe such things on their own as they get older and are familiar with our world more often. Stereotyping has been around for many years, but since then it has definitely gotten worst.
We may find some stereotypes to be quite humorous, but other stereotypes are there for us to have some sort of hate, and/or fear against that race or culture. Believe it or not, but stereotyping can definitely be one of the origins of false allegations and why they begin to have these false memories and traumas of sexual abuse. For example, some main races who are stereotyped to be fearful or harmful would be: African American, Hispanics/Latinos Americans, Jewish Americans, and Arabic Americans.
Most street gangs throughout America are believed to be dominated by African American males. Although there are street gangs that have originators of other ethnicities, African American males still manage to be a part of and have major impact on the welfare of the gang(s) itself. Hence the “African Americans are dangerous because of their violent and aggressive nature “stereotype. (Campbell, 1998)
Another minority group that is stereotyped a lot is Hispanic Americans. However, this one can be a bit contradicting. You see, some would say “Hispanic Americans are lazy and unreliable employees who use any excuse to avoid work,” (Campbell, 1998) while others would beg to differ because those of Mexican American descent are often portrayed in television shows on various networks working extremely hard for a living, doing next to nothing because they’re in this country illegally. For years upon years, Jews have been stereotyped tremendously. They’re often seen in comics and modern day propaganda counting money or anything pertaining to currency and them making a profit from it. Which is why some may say “Jewish Americans regularly walk over other people pursuing their ambitions of upward mobility.” (Campbell, 1998) Jewish Americans are said to be cheap and very mean people.
Last but not least, the Arab American stereotype. Because of their strong beliefs and personalities, Arabs have a tendency and are notoriously known for terrorism. A prime example would be 9/11 and the savages that were behind it. Not saying that because they’re of Arab descent, but that’s not what you thought at first, right? They’d be savages in my eyes no matter what race they were. They make us believe that “Arab Americans are religious zealots whose affinity for terrorism poses a persistent danger to our welfare.” (Campbell, 1998)
I believe that it is not fair to neither of these races to be treated and viewed in such a way. Therefore, due to these horrific stereotypes we’re all meant to believe that these people are mean and cruel and can harm us for no reason at all. Parents tell their children to look out for the African Americans, because they could rape them or kidnap them. So most children if they become victims of such, they would automatically accuse any African American male before accusing a Caucasian male.
The Effects of False Allegations
As a result of increased public awareness of suggestive therapeutic techniques and the mechanisms of childhood memories, the number of repressed memory cases declined, and reactionary cases, in which clients sued their therapists for false-memory implantation, increased. (Bjorklund, 2000)
Each year there are about 238,686 victims of sexual abuse; both men and women: children, teenagers, and adults. Every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted, even in the slightest way. Some of these victims report their assaults, some keep it a secret, and others create repressed memories that make them claim false allegations. Many who are forced to claim such allegations are due to the fact of stereotyping and prejudice, and even feelings of anxiety.
False memories can simply start off with a simple rumor, that you may begin to believe after a while or from someone who planted these things into your head. False memories can begin with anyone and anywhere. However, many do not know the consequences that follow behind false allegations. There are many effects that come with this sort of situation.
Facing the truth No one would like to admit that they were wrong or that they lied, especially about such things as sexual abuse.
Some may still believe that it may have happened and are in need of serious therapy to help them recover and others are just too embarrassed or ashamed to say what they have done. Situations like these have been happening for over a couple of years, so clearly they are understandable. As I stated in my previous paragraphs, many of these false allegations are either triggered by childhood trauma, anxiety, and even therapists. One who is borderline tenuous sense of being self-made, highly suggestible, are often inconsistent and occasionally dishonest. These are people who often say things to please someone into what they want to hear, and most of the time is because they are looking for explanations for their present difficulties. (Calof, 1998) Such as, getting their selves out of trouble, as I stated in my previously. One can ruin another’s reputation, their life, can develop a feeling of embarrassment, and can feel shameful. Although they may develop these sort of feelings, it is rather important to face the facts. If claiming false allegations of sexual abuse was on purpose then you will have suffer the consequences, in a bad way. If the false allegations were just traumas that triggered your mind, then there is help provided to help you with this sort of
situation.
References
Bjorklund, D. F. (2000). False-Memory Creation in Children and Adults: Theory, Research, and Implications. Mahwah, NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates .
Calof, D. (1998). Child Sexual Abuse and False Memory Syndrome. Amherst, NY : Prometheus Books .
Campbell, T. W. (1998). Smoke and Mirrors: The Devastating Effect of False Sexual Abuse Claims . New York : Insight Books.
Monica, H. L. (1994). The Necessity of Memory Experts for the Defense in Prosecutions For Child Sexual Abused Based on Repressed Memories. American Law Review, 69-75.