Traumatic childhood memories are not black and white, says ISU professor
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Memories of childhood trauma aren't set in stone — they can shift, resurface, or even diverge from the original event, according to a new theory from an Iowa State professor.
Why it matters: That means someone may recall an experience they'd long forgotten — or, just as powerfully, their perception of the trauma may evolve into something different from what happened, says Carl Weems, ISU professor of human development and family studies.
What they're saying: "We need to listen to people — they might have remembered these things, but we also need to make sure that we're not accusing people of doing things that they didn't actually do," Weems says.
State of play: Weems analyzed academic reviews and empirical literature on traumatic experiences to form his theory, which was published in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review in June.
What they're saying: Instead of viewing traumatic memories and people's reports as true or false, they should be seen as existing on a continuum, he argues.
- A child's immature brain may not reliably remember a traumatic event, but as the brain develops, so does episodic memory, which helps recall specific events and emotions.
- Over time, memories can become more intense, fade or shift in perception, depending on what happens after the traumatic incident, he says. New traumas, healing events and perceptions of safety can influence recall, he says.
Zoom in: In research with New Orleans kids after Hurricane Katrina, Weems found their reports of trauma and PTSD symptoms from losing their homes or witnessing a death remained consistent over time.
- But when he talked to the same kids after they experienced Hurricane Gustav — a less catastrophic storm — their memories of Hurricane Katrina and PTSD symptoms lessened, despite Gustav reactivating their traumatic memories.
- When the kids faced their fears with Gustav and had a more positive experience, it changed their perceptions of their Katrina experience, Weems says.