Abusos sexuales en la infancia: La Lógica Del Olvido

by Jennifer J. Freyd, Pablo Manzano (Translator)

El presente volumen explica cómo algunas personas que han sufrido abusos sexuales durante su infancia llegan a desarrollar, como mecanismo de supervivencia, una amnesia sobre esas traumáticas experiencias, en especial cuando dependen de sujetos agresivos y peligrosos. Asimismo, analiza cómo, ya en la etapa adulta, se recuerdan esos horrores de la infancia. Para Jennifer FREYD, quien también ha sufrido esta clase de abusos, es muy importante tener en cuenta el contexto social en el que se produce el trauma, así como la relación entre la víctima y el agresor. La autora revisa las investigaciones más actuales sobre alteraciones y preservación de la memoria y elabora una teoría rigurosa de la amnesia generada a partir de los abusos sexuales sufridos durante la etapa infantil. Esta obra proporciona una idea nueva y clara de los efectos duraderos y del tratamiento de los abusos sexuales sufridos durante la infancia. Se trata de una poderosa aportación para las ciencias de la salud mental, la psicología cognitiva y, en especial, para la investigación de la psicología de la memoria. Su lectura será de gran utilidad para quienes trabajan en el ámbito de la ciencia cognitiva y de la salud mental (especialistas en psiquiatría, psicología, asistencia social o derecho), así como para cualquier persona interesada en el tema de los abusos sexuales. Jennifer J. FREYD es Catedrática de Psicología de la University of Oregon (USA). Este libro recibió el Premio Pierre Janet for Excellence in Scientific Writing otorgado por la International Society for the Study of Dissociation , en 1997. Asimismo, fue considerado como Distinguished Publication en 1997 por la Association for Women in Psychology.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Self Help, Science, Abuse

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Billie Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

jennifer freyd is the daughter of pamela and peter freyd, infamous founders of the so-called false memory syndrome foundation. in this book, she completely refutes the claims of the FMSF and provides cogent and detailed explanations for the phenomena of repressed memories of child abuse. this book is vital armor for the survivor movement, and i commend freyd for her brave and intelligent rebuttal of her parents' warped perspectives.

[Sarah Vermaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Freyd is truly inspiring for me. Even before I personally had remembered my own abuse history, I learned about the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. Although I have always known and not known what had happened to me (What now I’ve learned is called implicit memory, which can be completely dissociated from explicit memory.) I was always afraid my memories would be false. A phenomenon which is not uncommon for incest survivors. As Freyd states:

“Many survivors convey enormous doubt about their own abuse memories. The chronic doubt about what did and did not happen along with a persistent inability to trust one’s perceptions of reality, are perhaps the most the most permanent and ultimately damaging long-term effect of childhood sexual abuse.”

This chronic doubt occurred not only with survivors who self-reported the abuse, but was also reported by survivors who had secundaire evidence about their abuse.

Betrayal Trauma is a theory which makes a lot of sense of having amnesia for the traumatic events. There are seven factors predicting amnesia is more likely to occur in incestuous abuse than any other sort of abuse. These are: 1) abuse by a caregiver; 2) explicit threats demanding silence; 3) alternative realities in environment; 4) isolation during abuse; 5) young at age of abuse; 6) alternative reality-defining statements by caregiver and; 7) lack of discussion of abuse.

Amnesia for betrayal trauma is an adaptive response, it makes sense to forget the abuse if it’s prolonged over a long period. Forgetting the betrayal trauma ensures the child’s safety. In contrast of what critics might say: “the most horrendous traumatic event will be remembered in great detail” - remembering this type of incestuous abuse would make it nearly impossible for the child to survive.

I have great respect for Jennifer Freyd. It’s no wonder that silence and unawareness of abuse is so common. If people dare to speak up about the abuse, they are often attacked by those they have relied on and trusted. When Freyd’s parents and the FMSF kept on assaulted her, in her private and personal life, she chooses to break the circle of abuse regardless. To continue her research without the privilege of keeping her own story private. (A privilege many researchers in this field do have).

This book is not only a great scientific resource about childhood sexual abuse, memory, dissociation and repression, but also a nuanced statement against the FMSF.

[Benjamin Abelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous book, intermediate in tone between general, serious non-fiction and a scholarly book. Those who persevere till the end are rewarded not only with a deep understanding of a set of important, trauma-related concepts, but a fascinating and unexpected revelation about Freyd's personal life story.

[Lore LongSoulSystem · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 (Solo porque hace falta una actualización)
El libro underrated para el debate de la memoria en español, de la forma en que se deben de hacer los estudios serios.
El libro y la autora deberían ser más conocidos en español.

[Valentín Serrano García · Rating 4 out of 5]

No es un libro particularmente destinado, pese a su título, a víctimas de abusos en la infancia. Sus destinatarios son mas bien especialistas de salud mental, psicólogos o neurologos. Ello queda evidenciado en la redacción, su caracter académico (grisaceo a menudo), las polémicas-diatribas que disecciona y un largo etcétera.

Puede ser útil, empero, para cimentar mejor, en aquellos que estén lidiando con sus amnesias defensivas y su sintomatologia del dolor, una comprensión del por qué de los olvidos, veladuras o estrategias para tapar los traumas del pasado.

En cualquier caso, este estudio es una gran aportación científica a la compresión de algo que, hasta entonces (salvando las excepciones de las que la autora bebe: Janet Freud, Erikson...) seguía teñido de escepticismo y mutismo.

Gracias a este ensayo, los negacionistas y cínicos acerca del fenómeno del "olvido adaptativo" y de los modos de expresión de la memoria implícita, quedan al descubierto como cómplices y/o verdugos. Sin duda, este ensayo es la afirmación de una verdad dolorosa y terrible.

[Cecilia Cicone · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read about cPTSD and memory.

[Teri Uktena · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's almost like a photographic negative. Rather than a discussion about betrayal trauma it is a book about how authorities in psychology and psychiatry as well as other professions don't understand betrayal trauma, how regular people don't understand it, don't know how to talk about it. and aren't dealing with it. There is nothing really about what it is, what can be done to work with it, how we can incorporate this into best practices, or even a hint about how to cope in a world where betrayal is the norm and expected.

This is also a snapshot of the culture and profession of the time. Our understanding of trauma and how to support the healing process has developed by leaps and bounds since this was published. It would be nice if the subject were revisited through our current trauma-informed lens.

[TimsGlitterBug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very logically laid out theory. Helped me understand better that it's an oddly normal & innate survival mechanism often employed by many, including a young child in the face of betrayal by caregivers, doing so in order to stay connected to their caregivers, since they still need them to survive...

[Carla Schanstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

groundbreaking. saved my life to find.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of text that should be required reading for college students. So much of the information here can be so helpful to young people entering relationships of any kind and have a background of sexual abuse.
Her proposition on consent completely opened my eyes in ways that I see my own past behavior subjected to agreeing but not having the capability to comprehend that I could object.
This along with van der kolks The Body Keeps the Score are insightful texts that have helped understand my conditioned behavior. I’ve learned so much about how trauma and childhood abuse affect us throughout time. Incredible book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally identify with a lot of the problems outlined in this book, and I like how there's a very distinct balance between outlining the psychology behind this whilst also connecting it to much bigger systemic issues with how childhood abuse is treated and how there's so many myths surrounding it that contribute towards the pervasiveness of it being ignored. The paradox this outlines where people somehow forget so much yet also remember so much about a traumatic events is kind of fascinating, also highlighting an interesting disparity with incidents where sexual assault survivors are disbelieved for faults in how they remember events. The topic of sexual assault and molestation is a massive thrust of the book, but there's a lot more this captures about traumatic incidents created by people who are supposed to care for someone, where the inexplicableness of it and the contradictions with our own survival mechanisms is a massive contributing factor as to why it's hard to remember.

That, and I'm also surprised by just how much of a level of clarity there is towards the issues here and it's refreshingly adult and to the point. As Freyd points out in the Afterword that even with her own personal history 'does not argue for or against betrayal trauma. It has to stand up on its own merits', and this is written in a way that's thoroughly incisive, tactful, and also where it's so direct and to the point that it's a surprisingly readable piece of work, considering the very rough subject matter that it covers.

[Jessica Brazeal Slaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clinical-y. Good info.

[Daniel Rickenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not pop-psychology. Freyd is well qualified to speak to the issues of trauma.