Some Additional Questions: A Response to Shaffer & Cozolino, to Gould and Cozolino, and to Friesen
The author reviews and comments on three articles (Shaffer & Cozolino, Gould & Cozolino, and Friesen) featured in the Journal of Psychology & Theology, 1992, 20(3) special issue on satanic ritual abuse. Issues explored include approaches to the factual validity of patient experiences; the diagnosis and treatment of the emotional sequelae of SRA; the existence of criminal satanic cults; basic premises on which observations and hypotheses about SRA are founded; the difficulty in extrapolating MPD data to SRA memories; the possibility of iatrogenic implantation of SRA “memories” through techniques of hypnotic interrogation; and the part transference issues and resistance may play in personality “splits.” The author affirms the importance of raising questions about the nature of the relationship between patients and therapists during psychotherapy, as well as the need for closer scrutiny of the various techniques being used to uncover and explore alleged trauma memories. The vulnerability of dissociative disorder patients to exploitation suggests the need to carefully review the standards of practice of mental health professionals, whatever their level of education and theoretical/technical persuasion.