Forensic PsychologyĬlinical psychology and forensic psychology are two disciplines that are not only different but, in many aspects, contradictory ( Greenberg & Shuman, 1997). Several elements can be observed that lead to the maintenance of the existence of false dissociative amnesias: a) the confusion between clinical psychology and forensic psychology, b) an inadequate definition of amnesia and the lack of a complete knowledge regarding memory mechanisms (specifically in relation to traumatic memories), and c) the problems inherent to researching traumatic memories.Ĭlinical Psychology vs. (1993) therefore, it should not be taken into consideration by the courts, because of the noise and misinformation generated among professionals due to the lack of agreements on the scientific evidence. The theory about repressed memories or dissociative amnesias does not meet the criteria established in Daubert vs. However, it should not be limited to whether the courts accept these theories or not ( Patihis et al., 2019), as this area should be very clear.
This discussion is relevant in forensic contexts, where the acceptance of the phenomenon of repressed and later recovered memories can lead to judicial errors as, in reality, they were false memories caused by bad practices when trying to get victims to remember facts that had not taken place ( Loftus, 2004). The controversy surrounding dissociative amnesia within forensic contexts has reopened an interesting discussion ( Brand et al., 2018 Brand, Schielke, & Brams, 2017 Brand, Schielke, Brams, & DiComo, 2017 Merckelbach, & Patihis, 2018 Patihis, Ho, Loftus, & Herrera, 2018 Patihis, Otgaar, & Merckelbach, 2019), under the denomination of memory wars ( Loftus, 2004), that had been closed for some time ( Freyd, Klest, & DePrince, 2010 Lindblom & Gray, 2010 Loftus, 1993 Loftus & Ketcham, 1996 Memon & Young, 1997). Palabras clave: Amnesia disociativa, Memoria traumática, Guerras de la memoria, Memoria reprimida. La confusión entre psicología clínica y psicología forense, una inadecuada definición de amnesia, el desconocimiento de muchos de los mecanismos de la memoria y los problemas inherentes a la investigación sobre las memorias traumáticas explicarían la falta de acuerdo. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia parapoder confirmarlo, al tiempo que las amnesias disociativas o memorias reprimidas irían en contra de las evidencias sobre el funcionamiento de la memoria. Desde perspectivas clínicas se ha apoyado la existencia de este fenómeno que se ha intentado extrapolar a contextos legales. Se ha debatido largamente sobre la realidad de las amnesias disociativas. Keywords: Dissociative Amnesia, Traumatic Memory, Memory wars, Repressed Memory. The confusion between clinical psychology and forensic psychology, an inadequate definition of amnesia, the lack of a complete knowledge regarding the mechanisms of memory, and the problems inherent to the research of traumatic memories could explain the lack of agreement. However, there is little evidence to confirm it and, moreover, dissociative amnesias or repressed memories would go against evidences about the functioning of memory. From a clinical perspective, there is support for the existence of this phenomenon, with attempts to extrapolate it to legal contexts. The reality of dissociative amnesia has been debated at length. Funding source: Santander Universidad Complutense de Madridįunding statement: This paper is part of the research project Assessment of psychological trauma in vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers (children and women), financed by Santander Universidad Complutense de Madrid (PR75/18-21661).
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