What We Don't Know Can Hurt Us: Clinical Inference Bias and Constructed Memories of Sexual Abuse
Date of Award
12-8-1995
Document Type
Undergraduate Capstone Project
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
John McNeill
Second Advisor
Paul Block
Third Advisor
Martha Pearse
Keywords
Recovered memory, Sexual abuse victims, Psychology
Abstract
The false memory/recovered memory debate, research regarding the malleability of memory, and the current lack of methods for validating recovered memories all support the view that heightened care is required of therapists dealing with clients whom they suspect have been sexually abused. The judgmental heuristics that underlie the major clinical inference biases of confirmatory bias, biased covariation, base rate fallacies, and schematic processing errors are all relevant to the processes leading to therapist-client constructions of memories of sexual abuse. Suggestions for minimizing each of these biases are offered. Personal motivations of the client and client suggestibility are factors that may contribute to the construction of memories of sexual abuse, and suggestions for minimizing the impact of these motivations are offered. In conclusion, general suggestions for minimizing the impact of clinical inference biases within the sexual abuse treatment context are summarized.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
57 pages
Recommended Citation
Kite, Liliana Hoyos, "What We Don't Know Can Hurt Us: Clinical Inference Bias and Constructed Memories of Sexual Abuse" (1995). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 152.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/152