Joan has been seeing a therapist for several months. At one session, her therapist suggests that Joan's emotional difficulties may be due to sexual abuse as a child. Initially, Joan is unable to recall any such abuse. However, at a later session, she recalls an incident of abuse that she had suppressed for many years. Based on social-psychological research findings, Joan's claims should be __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While it is important to take Joan's claims seriously, false memories can occur as a result of suggestion from a therapist. Therefore, caution should be exercised in accepting Joan's recovered memories without first investigating their veracity. False memory syndrome is a controversial issue in the field of psychology, and research suggests that individuals may sometimes recall events that never actually occurred as a result of unintentional suggestion or transference processes.

Joan Has Been Seeing a Therapist for Several Months