False memories and psychotherapy: Considerations from Catholic anthropology

Abstract

Memory research indicates that everyone is prone to false memories, with no exceptions. Unreliable data resulting from a patient's false memories may influence the psychotherapy process. Moreover, research has pointed to psychotherapy as a potential cause of the manipulation and fabrication of memories. Due to the lack of clear guidance on how one ought to approach untruths resulting from false memories, psychotherapists have sometimes unknowingly contributed to the production or reinforcement of such memories in their patients. In addition to reviewing the literature that is available on false memories, and their influences on psychotherapy, this dissertation will propose a new perspective on how false memories influence the psychotherapeutic process from the perspective of Catholic anthropology. Based on this discussion, ways of dealing with issues related to memory imperfections (and false memories) within the process of psychotherapy will also be discussed.