Replication of Repressed Memories and the Body Keeps the Score in Australia

Understanding how people think about memory is important, especially when it comes to trauma. In the 1990s, a wave of adults claimed to have recovered long-forgotten memories of childhood abuse, sparking heated debate. Despite research showing how easily false memories can form, belief in repressed memories remains widespread today, including among therapists and legal professionals. A recent U.S. study found that most adults believe in memory repression, and some even reported recovering forgotten memories themselves. Social media, bestselling books like "The Body Keeps the Score", and changes to child abuse laws may be fuelling these beliefs. In Australia, similar influences are present, including national law reform and the book’s popularity. Yet, we don’t know the extent of Australians’ beliefs about these topics. This study will explore public beliefs around memory and trauma in Australia to help inform how therapists, educators, and the legal system approaches these complex and often controversial issues.