Abstract
This chapter examines the claim that childhood trauma leads to a specific type ofautobiographical memory functioning, namely "overgeneral memory". It reviews scientific theory and research on autobiographical memory development, memory for traumarelated and nontrauma-related information in traumatized individuals, and autobiographical memory in nontraumatized and traumatized adolescents and adults. Preliminary findings from an ongoing study that examines autobiographical memory development in documented child sexual abuse victims versus matched controls with no known history of child sexual abuse are presented. It is shown that contrary to the overgeneral memory hypothesis, individuals with child maltreatment histories, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may overfocus on trauma in their lives and in their pasts, and this focus may make their autobiographical memories particularly accurate, especially for trauma-related information.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Stress, Trauma, and Children's Memory Development: Neurobiological, Cognitive, Clinical and Legal Perspectives |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780199867387 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780195308457 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 17 2008 |
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Keywords
- Adults
- Autobiographical memory development
- Child sexual abuse
- Children
- Memory
- Overgeneral memory
- PTSD
- Trauma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Accuracy and Specificity of Autobiographical Memory in Childhood Trauma Victims : Developmental Considerations. / Ogle, Christin M.; Block, Stephanie D.; Harris, Latonya S.; Culver, Michelle; Augusti, Else Marie; Timmer, Susan; Urquiza, Anthony; Goodman, Gail S.
Stress, Trauma, and Children's Memory Development: Neurobiological, Cognitive, Clinical and Legal Perspectives. Oxford University Press, 2008.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Accuracy and Specificity of Autobiographical Memory in Childhood Trauma Victims
T2 - Developmental Considerations
AU - Ogle, Christin M.
AU - Block, Stephanie D.
AU - Harris, Latonya S.
AU - Culver, Michelle
AU - Augusti, Else Marie
AU - Timmer, Susan
AU - Urquiza, Anthony
AU - Goodman, Gail S.
PY - 2008/4/17
Y1 - 2008/4/17
N2 - This chapter examines the claim that childhood trauma leads to a specific type ofautobiographical memory functioning, namely "overgeneral memory". It reviews scientific theory and research on autobiographical memory development, memory for traumarelated and nontrauma-related information in traumatized individuals, and autobiographical memory in nontraumatized and traumatized adolescents and adults. Preliminary findings from an ongoing study that examines autobiographical memory development in documented child sexual abuse victims versus matched controls with no known history of child sexual abuse are presented. It is shown that contrary to the overgeneral memory hypothesis, individuals with child maltreatment histories, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may overfocus on trauma in their lives and in their pasts, and this focus may make their autobiographical memories particularly accurate, especially for trauma-related information.
AB - This chapter examines the claim that childhood trauma leads to a specific type ofautobiographical memory functioning, namely "overgeneral memory". It reviews scientific theory and research on autobiographical memory development, memory for traumarelated and nontrauma-related information in traumatized individuals, and autobiographical memory in nontraumatized and traumatized adolescents and adults. Preliminary findings from an ongoing study that examines autobiographical memory development in documented child sexual abuse victims versus matched controls with no known history of child sexual abuse are presented. It is shown that contrary to the overgeneral memory hypothesis, individuals with child maltreatment histories, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may overfocus on trauma in their lives and in their pasts, and this focus may make their autobiographical memories particularly accurate, especially for trauma-related information.
KW - Adults
KW - Autobiographical memory development
KW - Child sexual abuse
KW - Children
KW - Memory
KW - Overgeneral memory
KW - PTSD
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920562764&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84920562764&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195308457.003.0006
DO - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195308457.003.0006
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84920562764
SN - 9780195308457
BT - Stress, Trauma, and Children's Memory Development: Neurobiological, Cognitive, Clinical and Legal Perspectives
PB - Oxford University Press
ER -