MEMORY WORK AND RECOVERED MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE - SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND PUBLIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND PERSONAL ISSUES

The authors review and critically evaluate scientific evidence regardi ng recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse and discuss the implic ations of this evidence for professional psychology, public policy, an d the law. The discussion focuses primarily on abuse memories recovere d through ''memory work'' by people who previously believed that they were not sexually abused as children. The authors argue that memory wo rk can yield both veridical memories and illusory memories or false be liefs, and they discuss factors that could be used to weigh the credib ility of allegations based on recovered memories. The article offers t entative recommendations regarding public education, training and cert ification of psychotherapists, guidelines for trauma-oriented psycho-t herapy, research initiatives, legislative actions, and legal proceedin gs.