The controversy in the mental health community over recovered memory has been heated. The devastation to families falsely accused of incest has been profound. A fortunate consequence, however, has ...been the vigorous pursuit of answers to a variety of mind-behavior questions raised by the controversy. In this article I raise some of the important questions and in reply I review and summarize some of the data. Some questions deal with the nature of memory and of unconscious processes, especially the role of implicit memory; the techniques of recovered memory therapy and the evolution of pseudo-memories and its relevance to clinical practice; the effects, real and alleged, of trauma; the place of dreams, flashbacks, and repetitive patterns of behavior in the understanding of memory and behavior; and finally, questions dealing with the definition of reality. All of these are important issues for the psychoanalyst.
In following families who reported to the False Memory Foundation between 1992 and 2001 that a member had charged them with incest, a survey questionnaire (with a 42% return rate) was sent to some ...4,400 families. These data demonstrate that 99% of these accusers were white, 93% were female, 77% were graduates, 86% were in psychotherapy, and 82% accused their father. Such accusations were rare events before 1985 but then grew exponentially in frequency, peaking in the 2-year period from 1991 to 1992, with 579 accusations. Thereafter, such accusations steadily declined so that in 1999 and 2000, only 36 accusations occurred. The accusers can be differentiated in the manner with which they reconciled with the situation: 56% refused all family contact, 36% returned but did not discuss the accusation, and 8% retracted completely. These data give evidence of a time-limited craze of therapy-induced incest accusations that has now dissipated.
The dearth of information regarding organism in postoperative transsexuals prompted the authors to study its prevalence. The sample consisted of 14 male-to-female (M-F) and 9 female-to-male (F-M) ...postoperative transsexuals. The relationship of orgasm to sexual and general satisfaction was explored via a specially designed questionnaire. Orgastic capacity declined in the M-F group and increased in the (F-M) group. Despite the decrease in orgasm in the M-F group, satisfaction with sex and general satisfaction with the results of surgery were high in both groups. General satisfaction of 86% replicates other studies. Frequency of sex increased by 75% in the M-F group and by 100% in the F-M group. A phalloplasty does not appear to be a critical factor in orgasm or in sexual satisfaction. The general conclusion is reached that it is possible to change one's body image and sexual identity and be sexually satisfied despite inadequate sexual functioning.
Comments on Joseph de Rivera's "The Construction of False Memory Syndrome: The Experience of Retractors" (1997 see abstract 9816044). The mind control & the narrative models of false memory induction ...used by de Rivera are outlined, & advantages & disadvantages of his interview technique (conceptual encounter) are discussed. Previously published survey data from 37 retractors (Lief, H., & Fetkewicz, J., 1995) are reviewed with reference to de Rivera's explanatory models, concluding that the mind control & narrative models accord with the survey responses. An outline of the process of false memory induction at the level of therapist-patient interaction is presented, along with questions for further research. 7 References. J. Ferrari
The controversy in the mental health community over recovered memory has been heated. The devastation to families falsely accused of incest has been profound. A fortunate consequence, however, has ...been the vigorous pursuit of answers to a variety of mind-behavior questions raised by the controversy. In this article I raise some of the important questions and in reply I review and summarize some of the data. Some questions deal with the nature of memory and of unconscious processes, especially the role of implicit memory; the techniques of recovered memory therapy and the evolution of pseudomemories and its relevance to clinical practice; the effects, real and alleged, of trauma; the place of dreams, flashbacks, and repetitive patterns of behavior in the understanding of memory and behavior; and finally, questions dealing with the definition of reality. All of these are important issues for the psychoanalyst.
Eleven couples, ages 21-31 years and married for at least 1 year, were studied intensively over a three menstrual cycle period from both an endocrine and a sexual behavioral standpoint. Each subject ...was interviewed individually and had a blood sample drawn twice weekly. Interviews were rated independently by two psychiatrists for degree of sexual initiation, responsivity, avoidance, couple interaction, and mood. Wives rated themselves also for degree of sexual gratification (responsivity). Plasma levels of testosterone and cortisol were determined for both husbands and wives while progesterone and estradiol levels were determined additionally for wives. Husband's initiation scores were significantly correlated with their wives responsivity (clinically rated) scores for 10 of the 11 couples; wives' initiation scores were significantly related to their husband's responsivity scores for 8 of the 11 couples. When either set of correlation coefficients was treated as a new variable and intercorrelated with the husband's average testosterone levels, a significant relationship was obtained. Intercourse frequency, while not related to either partner's average testosterone levels, was related to wives' testosterone levels at their ovulatory peaks. The wivess' self-rated gratification scores correlated significantly with their own plasma testosterone levels. Inspection of each wife's plasma testosterone profile across the three cycles indicated that a dichotomy coccurred, with some women showing a high baseline level and others showing a low baseline level. When wives were dichotomized on this basis, it was found that high baseline testosterone level was significantly related to high self-rated gratification score and to ability to form good interpersonal relationships.
INTRODUCTION Sexual health services have expanded rapidly since 1970 when Masters and Johnson published their landmark volume, Human Sexual Inadequacy (Masters and Johnson, 1970). Physicians now ...receive better training and are more apt to undertake sexual counseling than was the case previously. In the last decade other health professionals, e.g., clinical psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, are likely to bring somewhat more than a modicum of knowledge and experience to the care of clients with sexual problems. Even more striking is the increase in specialists in sex therapy. The growth of the field described by Holden (1974) has not slackened. For a complete reprint of this article contact Haworth Press by telephone (1-800-HAWORTH) or EMail (getinfo@haworth.com) Article copyright The Haworth Press, Inc.
