RECALL OF ABUSE IN CHILDHOOD AND THREE MEASURES OF DISSOCIATION

• NCJ Number: 144483
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (July-August 1993) Pages: 477-485
• Author(s): M J DiTomasso; D K Routh
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A sample of 312 undergraduate students were hypnotized to examine recalled incidents of abuse.

Abstract

The Physical Abuse Scale of the Assessing Environments III and another sexual abuse questionnaire were used to assess recalled episodes of abuse. The study used the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Tellegen Absorption Scale, and Dissociative Experiences Scale to measure dissociation. The results showed that the latter two measures correlated with both of the abuse variables (physical punishment and sexual abuse), while the former scale was not correlated. These findings indicate that there is a relationship between the dissociative aspects of psychological functioning and recalled experiences of abuse. Researchers should consider both physical and sexual abuse when investigating the origins of dissociative behavior. 4 tables, 37 references, and 1 appendix