False Allegations Research Paper

False Memories
The Origins of False Allegations

Bilqis Sanchez
Introduction to Psychology, PSY-101-10
Professor Dunovant
November 26, 2013
Abstract
For many years now, there has been numerous victims of sexual abuse, both male and female: adults, teens, and children. However, some of these allegations might not have, and have never been true. Some may have accused innocent people of sexual crimes that they have not committed on purpose, while others are simply disturbed mentally and resort to fabricating such allegations. Others may attempt to make these false allegations against innocent people simply to get that person into trouble; or because of prejudice and stereotyping. Those who do this knowingly,
Many people do not know what rape is and what kind of trouble they can get someone into. Other times, these false allegations may happen because one is forced to say such things. A child’s mind is easily influenced, therefore you can input any sort of information into their heads and have them believe that it did happen. Although, you may be doing this for your own good, you are really harming the child much more than you are the suspect. Parents are much more targets of false allegations because of this. One parent may tell their child to say that the other parent had sexually abused him/ her in their favor. Stunned and overwhelmed, the child promptly began to report what the one parent wanted to hear. (Campbell, 1998) We ask, do we let these false allegations happen because we are easily influenced or weak? Or do we do these things for our own good, and to make us seem as the victims. Although, suggesting that a person’s memory may be false, should not imply that he or she is deliberately lying, but in cases like these, he or she is definitely stating false information for his or her own good. (Monica, 1994)
Some may still believe that it may have happened and are in need of serious therapy to help them recover and others are just too embarrassed or ashamed to say what they have done. Situations like these have been happening for over a couple of years, so clearly they are understandable. As I stated in my previous paragraphs, many of these false allegations are either triggered by childhood trauma, anxiety, and even therapists. One who is borderline tenuous sense of being self-made, highly suggestible, are often inconsistent and occasionally dishonest. These are people who often say things to please someone into what they want to hear, and most of the time is because they are looking for explanations for their present difficulties. (Calof, 1998) Such as, getting their selves out of trouble, as I stated in my previously. One can ruin another’s reputation, their life, can develop a feeling of embarrassment, and can feel shameful. Although they may develop these sort of feelings, it is rather important to face the facts. If claiming false allegations of sexual abuse was on purpose then you will have suffer the consequences, in a bad way. If the false allegations were just traumas that triggered your mind, then there is help provided to help you with this sort of