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Someone claims that her father molested her when she was a child. She claims that she had repressed this memory because she was too afraid of remembering it. You have learned about repression (intentionally forgetting painful memories) and false memories. Would you conclude that the father is guilty or not guilty? How would you support your decision? Your answer should be 2 pages long, double-spaced Also, please respond to student A's, and Student B's opinions. Student A's opinion I would 100% claim the father to be guilty of molestation. The girl claims that her father molested her when she was younger and in an effort to not remember, she repressed it. Sigmund Freud proposed that there is an unconscious mind into which we repress all of our threatening urges and desires. 

Freud’s patients suffered from nervous disorders but there were no physical cases; thus Freud thought of the idea of repression. The daughter may have been so confused because the act of molestation was done by a person she trusted. Even though she pushed that specific memory away in her unconscious, it is still there and it still happened. Wanting to think about it years later does not make the memory any less real nor does it make her look like she’s making up the scenario, thus people thinking that the father is not guilty. No sane person makes up a story of molestation, nevertheless blaming their own father. Repression is linked to memory revival and false memory syndrome. False memory syndrome refers to the creation of inaccurate or false memories through the suggestion of others, often times, the person is under hypnosis. Even though this girl may have repressed her memories, whether or not she remembers every detail, she still remembers the most important one: the fact that she had non-consensual sex. 

 This past September at the start of freshman year of college, one of my best friends was a victim of molestation. Though it was not by some random person, it was by a guy she knew. She and the guy were both drinking, but she was under the influence and he happened to slip a drug into her drink. I do not care whether or not she was drinking and may have said yes it’s okay, because in my opinion, a drunk yes is a sober no. She had not wanted to do anything like that for a while because she just wasn't ready emotionally. The morning after it happened, she called me crying hysterically because she didn't know what to do. She does not even remember all of it, but she remembers bits and pieces of that night. A week later she went to the hospital to talk to someone, but she was hesitant to report it because of the fact that there were bits and pieces. Ironically, yesterday she told me she was going to be calling the campus police to report it. She tells me whenever we talk about it that she tries not to have and feelings to it because she doesn't want to remember anything that happened or feel anything. The fact of the matter is, it happened to her and she’s very different now. 

She’s extremely wary of people touching her and although she wants to press charges against the man who molested her, she does not want to at the same time. She’s afraid that too much time has passed and that there is no evidence, other then her emotional issues to find the man guilty. Yes, I would conclude that the father is guilty. Molestation is a real, common issue nowadays. A person who is molested not only deals with the physical issues likes bruises, tears to the skin, possible STDs, but also deals with the emotional trauma of being assaulted. I’m sure the molestation affected how she perceives others and changed her in many ways and that is due to what her father, someone she once trusted, did to her. Unfortunately, there will never be solid proof that her father molested her, but for many people, that is their reality and it is important to give support to anyone who has been through something traumatic like this. 

 Student B's opinion I have very little fond memories of my childhood. I had a very loving mother along with a half brother and half sister who to me were never half because we were together our entire lives. My aunt lived with us, which was great because I never was forced to have babysitters I didn’t like. This subject is very sensitive to me because I suffer from having a repressed memory due to my father. My mother still to this day will tell me stories of me being such a happy baby. She says at about the age of five my mood changed tremendously. I grew an ill temper that she used to say “came from my father”. My mother and father were never married or even together after my birth. I used to have visits with my dad one Saturday every two weeks. I remember I sat on his couch and watched the same ten Disney movies over and over. I normally sat in silence and stared at the little clock he had on the television waiting for it to hit 5 P.M. so I could go home. I was incredibly frightened by him but I didn’t know why.

 At the age of nine I told my mom I didn’t want to see my father anymore. I didn’t know why I suddenly made the decision but I guess I felt I was bored and missed out on playing with my brother and sister on Saturdays. He was already on the way to my house to pick me up. Unfortunately I heard the foul opinion my father had of my mother when he was yelling and cursing at her at my front door. That was the last time I saw my father. He then passed away when I was twelve years old. Around this age I began having very vivid nightmares. I dreamt of being chased, dead bodies, violence, or even insects eating me alive. My mother thought it was because of my love of scary movies and immediately stopped letting me watch them. But they still continued. I felt like my dreams were trying to tell me something, but I didn’t understand. Something was in my subconscious mind trying to get out. I tried writing notes about my dreams right after having them trying to put pieces together but still nothing made any sense. At fifteen years old I remembered my first repressed memory. It felt like my brain was under attack with 100 pictures coming out of my head and then one image suddenly froze. Suddenly I remembered clear as day when my father handed me a rifle at the age of 7, giving me specific instructions on how to shoot. He roared at me to never point it at him. 

I remember my chest pounding and how scared of him I was. I haven’t remembered any other memories since. The reason I gave this background story is to help my fellow classmates to understand how real repressed memories are. Unfortunately, there will never be substantial evidence to prove if the supposed victim was molested by her father. I can tell you if this memory came back to her as vividly as mine, she is telling the truth. The subconscious mind is incredibly complicated and I have questioned before if my dreams have played tricks on my memories. 

There is a possibility of some thoughts being exaggerated due to a mix of dreams. However I believe it’s all in “the fine print”. I am certain what I remembered is true because I remember all the exact details. I know what room I was in, the smells, the carpeting, the decorations on the walls, everything. It was too detailed and too long ago to be created by my mind as a false memory. If the supposed victim can believe precise details of the rape, then I believe it’s possible to have been repressed. If something traumatizes you, I believe you absolutely can repress that particular memory although I don’t feel it can ever be proven for certain that you are telling the truth.