They are indistinguishable from real memories. Professional mental
health organizations recommend that recovered memories should only be
accepted as real if they have been verified by hard evidence.
Occult crime: Any crime which involves occult
symbols or which is perpetrated by a person who is active in the occult. Since
the term "occult" is defined very broadly by some to include horoscope
reading, palm readings, membership in the Masonic order, and other benign pursuits,
"occultists" are quite numerous. However, there are few if any links
between belief in the occult and criminal activity.
Programming (when related to SRA): an abusive, brain-washing technique
which can allegedly create
group members who behave like robots; they have no self-will. It is alleged that
programmed individuals can be triggered by words, phrases, sounds, smells
etc. to perform specific tasks. Those who promote belief in programming
state that it can be
accomplished by very severe, sophisticated sequences of abuse starting in early childhood and continuing over a period
of years. Many mental-health professionals doubt that programming is possible.
Recanting: People who have gone through recovered memory therapy
frequently realize that the images created were not of real events. This process
often takes many years. They usually attempt to make amends with their family
and friends.
Recovered memories: Images (typically uncovered
during therapy by women in their late 20's to late 40's). Most are of sexual molestation
during childhood. Some believe that these images are memories of actual events
during childhood which are actively repressed by the
child during shortly after the event. Recovery of these images is often a long-term and difficult process. Others
believe that these images are not memories of real events but are based upon memory fragments
from past horror movies, books, TV programs etc. The images can evolve into what
the client feels are memories by either
self-therapy or counseling with a therapist involving such suggestive techniques as
hypnotism, guided imagery, dream analysis, imagining abuse, etc. In about 17% of cases,
recovered memories involve SRA. They differ from
dormant memories in that
their recovery typically takes a long time. Dormant memories are generally
triggered by a photograph, newspaper article, conversation, etc. and come
rushing into consciousness almost instantaneously.
Recovered memory therapy: A method of treatment involving
suggestive techniques such as hypnosis, guided imagery, dream
interpretation, "truth drugs", etc. These were once widely believed to be
capable of recovering memories of real events that happened during
childhood.
Ritual abuse: Some consider this a synonym for Sadistic Ritual Abuse.
RA: Acronym for ritual abuse.
Ritual days: See holidays.
Sadistic Ritual Abuse: Psychological, sexual, and/or physical assault committed
by one or more people according to a prescribed ritual, whose primary motive is to either
fulfill a need to abuse others, or to program the victim so that they can be precisely
controlled in the future. Satanic Ritual Abuse: Psychological, sexual, and/or physical assault
forced on an unwilling victim and committed
by one or more Satanists according to a prescribed ritual, the primary aim of which is to
fulfill the need to worship the Christian devil, Satan. Note: This
definition does not include:
Essays by other groups often define SRA more widely, to include any crime
where Satanic symbols are found, or even crimes by perpetrators who have Satanic
symbols or books in their home. Common estimates of the number of SRA murders in
the U.S. and Canada cover the range from 0 to 60,000 per year.
SRA Acronym for Satanic Ritual Abuse or, more recently, Sadistic Ritual
Abuse.
Survivor (when related to RA, SRA, sadistic ritual abuse and recovered
memories): an adult who believes that they have memories of their own childhood ritual
abuse. The recollections may have been continuous since the abuse occurred, or they may be
recovered memories.
Triggered memories: These are forgotten memories that come
rushing back suddenly into consciousness as a result of a trigger, such as the
name, the voice, a photograph, a newspaper article about the perpetrator, etc.
These are different from recovered memories because they flood back into memory
quickly.
Triggers: A sound, word, phrase, image, symbol, smell etc. which
triggers past
programming in order to cause a SRA survivor to perform a specific act. Many SRA
survivors believe that these exist. Belief in triggers seems to have originated
in a move, the Manchurian Candidate. Few psychiatrists and psychologists believe
that triggers that initiate a specific act are possible.

References:
Copyright © 1995 to 2005 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance.
Latest update: 2005-OCT-30
Author: B.A. Robinson
