| Summary: | The empirical foundation of traumatic memory is obscure, perplexing, and in many instances,
candidly paradoxical. In some cases, trauma has been found to produce accurate and persistent
memory, while in others, memorial distortions such as dissociative amnesia. Unfortunately, the
vast majority of the literature is laboratory based, raising the issue of external validity and
necessitating the need for more field research. This field study set out to explore this
complicated and often empirically contradictory area. The objective was to review the relevant
literature and to ultimately, while incorporating the present results, validate a model of
eyewitness recall for criminal and other traumatic events. It was proposed that situational
features of the event interact with both trait and state characteristics of the victim to ultimately
produce recall. Thirty-six prostitutes were interviewed using the 'Step-Wise' semi-structured
interview for adult assault victims. Employing a repeated measures design, participants were
instructed to provide three autobiographical narratives (i.e., a sexual assault, a non-sexual
traumatic event, and a positive event) which were audio-taped and then qualitatively coded for
quantity of recall. After each narrative, participants were assessed for retrospective state
dissociation and for current post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptomology. In addition,
participants completed a trait dissociation scale and were queried as to the extent of their
substance abuse and sexual assault histories. Results are discussed in terms of implications for
interviewing, expert testimony and credibility assessment concerning memory for traumatic
events.
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