The "False Memory" Defense:
Using Disinformation and Junk Science in and out of Court

Reproduction here by permission of the editor from Haworth Press,
Special Issue on Disinformation, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 9(3 & 4):
(in press for 2001/2) (to order full issue:1-800-429-6784)

Submitted: October 22, 2000
Revised: March 8, 2001
Accepted: July 27, 2001

Charles L. Whitfield, M.D., F.A.S.A.M. is in Private Practice in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Leadership Council on Mental Health, Justice and the Media, and on the faculty of Rutgers Institute on Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

Correspondence to: Charles L. Whitfield, Box 420487, Atlanta, GA 30342 404-843-4300

This article describes a seemingly sophisticated, but mostly contrived and often erroneous "false memory" defense, and compares it in a brief review to what the science says about the effect of trauma on memory. Child sexual abuse is widespread and dissociative/traumatic amnesia for it is common. Accused, convicted and self-confessed child molesters and their advocates have crafted a strategy that tries to negate their abusive, criminal behavior, which we can call a "false memory" defense. Each of 22 of the more commonly used components of this defense is described and discussed with respect to what the science says about them. Armed with this knowledge, survivors, their clinicians, and their attorneys will be better able to refute this defense of disinformation.

Key words are: dissociative amnesia, traumatic amnesia, child sexual abuse, child molesters, pedophiles, enablers, "false memory", "false memory" defense, disinformation.