Retrieving and modifying traumatic memories: Recent research relevant to three controversies

The purpose of this article is to review recent research that is relevant to three controversies concerning memory for trauma. First, we briefly review the debate about recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse, summarizing a third interpretation distinct from both the repression and false-memory accounts. Second, we address new findings related to claims that memories of trauma, especially in people with posttraumatic stress disorder, are especially fragmented and disorganized. Third, we discuss research designed to test whether eye movements in eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy are effective.

Journal

English

Iris M. Engelhard 
Richard J. McNally
Kevin van Schie

Engelhard, I. M., McNally, R. J., & van Schie, K. (2019, January). Retrieving and modifying traumatic memories: Recent research relevant to three controversies. Current Directions in Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/0963721418807728