Suggestions of Abuse: True and False Memories of Childhood Sexual Trauma [Hardcover]

Michael D. Yapko (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078816208X | ISBN-13: 978-0788162084 | Publication Date: April 1, 1994 | Edition: 1

Allegations of sexual abuse, particularly those based on the recovery of supposed repressed memories of abuse, have reached incredible proportions. This timely book reveals how & why a startling number of mental health professionals, ignorant about suggestibility & the workings of memory, are unwittingly leading their patients to believe that they are victims of sexual abuse that has been entirely repressed. Yapko explains what we know -- & don t know -- about memory, repression, & suggestibility. Also offers sensitive, realistic advice for those whose lives have been damaged or falsely led to believe they were abused.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Finally, a work of popular psychology whose purpose is not to convince readers that they are victims but to illuminate one of the most fascinating and distressing occurrences in recent years-the increase in sexual abuse accusations resulting from the recollection of repressed memories. While clinical psychologist Yapko asserts that memories of horrible events can indeed be repressed, so little is understood about both memory and the mind's receptivity to suggestion that it can be virtually impossible to distinguish genuine memories from false ones. In some instances, therapists are able to convince susceptible clients that they are victims of sexual abuse that may have never occurred. This book is recommended for all public libraries, and while it is not scholarly in the strictest sense, it would not be an inappropriate purchase for academic libraries.
Jennifer Amador, Central State Hosp. Medical Lib., Petersburg, Va.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Clinical psychologist and therapist Yapko, author of several books on clinical hypnosis and on treatment of depression, attempts to define the issues at the core of the intense public and professional controversy over the authenticity of memories of childhood sexual abuse that develop in the course of therapy. Based on questionnaires on attitudes toward memory and hypnosis to which more than 850 professionals responded, Yapko argues that a significant number of therapists genuinely do not understand how memory functions (it's not a computer) or just what hypnosis can--and cannot--accomplish. Suggestions of Abuse then summarizes research on memory, repression, suggestibility, and the consequences of false accusations of abuse, counseling both professionals and patients to recognize the potential for distortion and confabulation and the creation of firmly believed false memories when therapists impose their own agendas on the process. A useful corrective to the sometimes hysterical pop-psychology generalizations on this troubling subject. Mary Carroll --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078816208X
• ISBN-13: 978-0788162084
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,747,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist residing in Fallbrook, California. He is internationally recognized for his work in clinical hypnosis and outcome-focused psychotherapy, routinely teaching to professional audiences all over the world. He has been invited to present his innovative ideas and methods to colleagues in over 30 countries across six continents, and all over the United States.

Dr. Yapko has had a special interest which spans more than three decades in the intricacies of brief therapy, the clinical applications of hypnosis, and treating the disorder of major depression. He is the author of ten books and editor of three others, as well as numerous book chapters, and articles on the subjects of the brief therapy of depression and the use of clinical hypnosis in strategic psychotherapies.

Dr. Yapko is a member of the American Psychological Association, a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a member of the International Society of Hypnosis, and a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He is a recipient of The Pierre Janet Award of Clinical Excellence, a lifetime achievement award from the International Society of Hypnosis, and The Milton H. Erickson Award of Scientific Excellence for Writing in Hypnosis from the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. He is also a recipient of The Milton H. Erickson Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychotherapy.

On the personal side, Dr. Yapko is happily married to his wife, Diane, a pediatric speech-language pathologist. Together, they enjoy hiking in the Great Outdoors in their spare time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!, May 14, 2004

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Mycroft (Rio Linda, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Suggestions of Abuse: True and False Memories of Childhood Sexual Trauma (Hardcover)

This is a clear cool discussion of a very heated topic. Having read several of Dr. Yapko's other books I was certainly not disappointed with this one. He has dealt with a difficult subject in a clear, reasoned and professional manner. He deals with both suggestibility & repressed memories without getting mired or entangled. Kudos Dr. Yapko.