Recent research from the University of Portsmouth suggests that a person's recollection of their feelings towards a parent during childhood can be significantly altered during talk therapy, even when the questions asked are not intentionally leading.
The study, led by Dr. Lawrence Patihis from the University's School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, explored how the process of reappraisal during therapy sessions can change both current emotions and memories of past feelings towards a parent, specifically focusing on mothers.
Dr. Patihis, an expert in memory reliability, explained the motivation behind the research: "We all experience childhood amnesia in our early years due to constant neuron production. This creates complexities in distinguishing between what we think we remember and what actually occurred."
The study involved two groups of participants. One group was asked to provide recent examples of their mother exhibiting positive attributes, while the other group was asked for examples of negative attributes. The results showed that these reappraisals not only altered current emotions but also affected memories of childhood feelings towards the mother.
This finding has implications for therapy sessions, where clients are often asked to reflect on family relationships. Dr. Patihis cautioned, "Therapists and clients should be aware that such prompts during a session might unintentionally lead to reappraisals of parents, affecting both current emotions and past memories."
The research also highlights potential risks in therapies that focus on negative childhood experiences. While these approaches assume that present relationship problems stem from childhood trauma, the study suggests that this process can sometimes distort the truth of past feelings, potentially leading to family estrangement.
However, Dr. Patihis emphasized that individuals with genuine negative experiences should still trust their feelings. The key takeaway is that everyone should be aware of the malleability of emotions and memories.
Interestingly, even positive reappraisals come with their own set of risks. While thinking more positively about a parent can improve overall relationships, it may also obscure accurate memories of childhood sadness or anger, which could be valuable in making different parenting choices.
Dr. Patihis recommends that people be informed about the potential for memory shifts before beginning therapy sessions. This awareness can help individuals maintain accuracy about their childhood memories and should be part of the informed consent process in therapy.
The full study has been published in the Psychological Reports journal, offering valuable insights into the complex interplay between therapy, memory, and family relationships.