Deck 11: Section 1: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Question 1

Which allegations of recovered memories should be suspect?

Answer 1

Main points:
The following features of recovered memories should raise suspicion:
• if memories were recovered after a series of psychotherapeutic sessions where hypnosis, guided imagery, and other suggestive techniques were used;
• if memories were recovered slowly, first as vague feelings and unclear recollections (most true memories come back in vivid details);
• if memories involve extended abuse lasting into adolescence or abuse that happened very early on, before the age of 3; or
• if memories involve extremely rare or bizarre kids of abuse (e.g., satanic rituals).

Question 2

How are child witnesses perceived by jurors? What kind of measures do the courts take to protect child witnesses?

Answer 2

Main points:
• Studies show that witnesses are more likely to believe younger children than adolescents when it comes to reports of sexual abuse because younger children should lack the knowledge about sexual acts.
• To protect children, most states allow hearsay testimony when an adult testifies on behalf of the child about what the child told him/her.
• In the case of Maryland v. Craig (1990), the Supreme Court held that CCTV is allowed for use in court for the testimony of a child to spare the child the emotional trauma of facing his or her abuser.

Question 3

Should anatomically detailed dolls be admissible in court? Why or why not?

Answer 3

Main points:
• In many daycare center cases throughout the 1980s, daycare providers and workers were accused and convicted of sexual abuse of children in their care. Years later, it turned out the convicted "abusers" were innocent.
• When interviewing children, the investigators often used anatomically detailed dolls with genitalia clearly showing.
• The use of such dolls elicits natural curiosity in young children and, along with suggestive questioning, is likely to lead to false accusations of sexual abuse.
• Subsequent studies showed that children are likely to disclose true sexual abuse in non-coercive, gentle interviews without any props.
• For these reasons, anatomically detailed dolls should not be allowed in court and during investigations when questioning children.