Sexual Abuse Support Group
Sexual abuse is a relative cultural term used to describe sexual relations and behavior between two or more parties which are considered criminally and/or morally offensive. Different types of sexual abuse involve: Non-consensual, forced physical sexual behavior such as rape, incest or sexual assault, or psychological forms of abuse, such as verbal sexual behavior or...
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Not unusual to forget childhood sexual abuseOctober 12, 2006
When questioned closely by psychologists from Harvard University about their feelings, victims of childhood sexual abuse revealed some surprising impressions.
First, the abuse apparently was not seen as traumatic, terrifying, life threatening, or violent at the time. "It hurt," said one man who was raped as a boy. "And after a while I knew it was wrong, but not at the beginning." Only two out of the 27 recalled feeling traumatized at the time, report psychologists Susan Clancy and Richard McNally.
Some psychologists believe that forgetting childhood sexual abuse is a deep-seated unconscious blocking out of the event, an involuntary mechanism that automatically keeps painful memories out of consciousness. Clancy and McNally's work leads them to conclude that it's just ordinary forgetting.
"I never told anyone," said one victim. "Basically, I just forgot about it."
"Memories of childhood sexual assault can slip from awareness in the same way that ordinary memories can," Clancy asserts. Everyday forgetting can include voluntary suppression, insufficient reminders, or avoidance. "A failure to think about something is not the same as being unable to remember it," McNally adds.
A major reason for such "normal forgetting" is that the abuse, even multiple episodes, was not seen as terrifying or life threatening at the time. But how about later when the violations were recalled? All 27 of those assaulted reported multiple negative effects from the abuse, such as loss of trust in people, difficulties with relationships, sexual problems, loss of self- esteem, mental health problems, or alienation. "It may be recovered memories of the assaults as traumatic, rather than the event itself being that way, that is responsible for these adverse impacts," Clancy concludes.
Contributed by Harvard University Gazette
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2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Digg slashdot
Related Stories
Childhood abuse hurts the brain
Medical records play role in domestic violence legal cases
Related PeopleRichard J. McNally
Susan Clancy
Related ProgramsDepartment of Psychology
HOME: MEDICINE+HEALTH
Not unusual to forget childhood sexual abuseOctober 12, 2006
When questioned closely by psychologists from Harvard University about their feelings, victims of childhood sexual abuse revealed some surprising impressions.
First, the abuse apparently was not seen as traumatic, terrifying, life threatening, or violent at the time. "It hurt," said one man who was raped as a boy. "And after a while I knew it was wrong, but not at the beginning." Only two out of the 27 recalled feeling traumatized at the time, report psychologists Susan Clancy and Richard McNally.
Some psychologists believe that forgetting childhood sexual abuse is a deep-seated unconscious blocking out of the event, an involuntary mechanism that automatically keeps painful memories out of consciousness. Clancy and McNally's work leads them to conclude that it's just ordinary forgetting.
"I never told anyone," said one victim. "Basically, I just forgot about it."
"Memories of childhood sexual assault can slip from awareness in the same way that ordinary memories can," Clancy asserts. Everyday forgetting can include voluntary suppression, insufficient reminders, or avoidance. "A failure to think about something is not the same as being unable to remember it," McNally adds.
A major reason for such "normal forgetting" is that the abuse, even multiple episodes, was not seen as terrifying or life threatening at the time. But how about later when the violations were recalled? All 27 of those assaulted reported multiple negative effects from the abuse, such as loss of trust in people, difficulties with relationships, sexual problems, loss of self- esteem, mental health problems, or alienation. "It may be recovered memories of the assaults as traumatic, rather than the event itself being that way, that is responsible for these adverse impacts," Clancy concludes.
Contributed by Harvard University Gazette
email this page to a friend
about us|search|contact us|supporting HarvardScience|terms of use|privacy
2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
For me acknowlegding i only fooled myself into thinking i had dealt with it. So i found out the hard way that acknowlegding the abuse doesn not mean i dealth with the damage. It has been an eye opeing experiece.
I have said this before that abuse is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. have you ever tried to do that.
the point is it will come to the surface as it wares us down. then we regain some strength and the cycle starts all over again. so my goal is to get rid of the beach ball.
glad you liked the post. the other post is named the same but is different it discribes the physical damage done to the brain.
it is very real and explains a lot for me.
thanks
I experienced so many abuses, I would have to say that the emotional abuse left me the most vulernable and damaged.
I was given up at 6 mos. old and lived throught the hell of the foster care system for 17 years, 13 homes. I can say I learned how to cope with the physical and the sexual but when I entered therapy I would have to say my most difficult abuse was that of emotional.
I was never nurtured or loved in a good way. Never had parents and I think that was the hardest for me.
But, we all have the ability to pick ourselves up and move forward. I have so much self respect because I did it all on my own. Most people have people to guide them down the RIGHT road but I chose that road on my own and I don't have anyone that thank for choosing the Right road other than myself so I am PROUD to be me!!!
I do agree with the title subject about "brain damage due to abuse". We've known for a long time, mostly from studies done with WWII era concentration camp and torture survivors that some traumatic events CAN case permanent chemical changes in the brain. I've never seen this specifically applied to sexual abuse but it wouldn't surprise me.
But I disagree with Clancy's suggestion that "It may be recovered memories of the assaults as traumatic, rather than the event itself being that way, that is responsible for these adverse impacts." because it doesn't explain all the people who exhibit these adverse impacts BEFORE dealing with the memories.