False Memory Syndrome Essay

Having a “memory lapse” is a very common occurrence that most if not all humans can relate to. It is that moment of recollection when what is trying to be remembered can’t be even if it occurred moments, days, weeks, or months ago. Such are situations where we find that we are just unable to recall what we were doing, going to do, and or even words exchanged during conversations. This vulnerability is amplified if the memory loss is the result of trauma, chemical affect, or diminished mental capacity. Innocently, this is an event where our memories seem to just fail us.
If and up to when the memories come back, individuals may find themselves dependent upon others to assist in remembering. Be it true or false information and without additional
However, needing memory guidance from another person can actually put them in a position of vulnerability due misinformation. The development of false memories can cause great harm, not only to the people who hold them, but also to others around them. In worst case scenarios, the impact can be life changing and even incriminating.
The term false memory syndrome appeared during the 1990’s as a result from reactions “to an abundance of cases during the previous two decades in which patients claimed to be victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) or satanic ritual. These recovered memory cases led to criminal prosecutions of alleged abusers, lawsuits against therapists by former clients and parents, and even legislative reform.” (Depue,
In 2008 the website for the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF) supplied the following definition:
“A condition in which a person's identity and interpersonal relationships are centered around a memory of traumatic experience which is objectively false but in which the person strongly believes … The syndrome may be diagnosed when the memory is so deeply ingrained that it orients the individual's entire personality and lifestyle, in turn disrupting all sorts of other adaptive behavior.”