Susan Clancy
Encyclopedia
Susan A. Clancy is a psychology
researcher at Harvard University
in the field of memory
.
, a phenomenon her research has called into question. Because her original research subjects, people who had recovered memories (generally via hypnosis
) of sexual abuse
, proved a politically sensitive group to debunk, Clancy decided to aim instead at the claims and recovered memories of alleged outer-space alien abductees. This latter group was neither viewed sympathetically by the public, thus refuting their claims would not be politically problematic, nor did its claims of alien encounters have any scientific credibility to begin with. Therefore, Clancy could focus her work on determining how exactly people came to believe they were abducted by aliens, and how they recovered memories of such a thing, while she assumed the factual nature of their claims to be prima facie false.
The latter working assumption has of course irritated many alleged abductees, including many of the people who supplied research data for Clancy's work. She argues that while she has sympathy for their experiences — all of which she says have worldly, physiological, explanations — she is not compelled from a scientific standpoint to accept their extraordinary claims on faith alone. And, remarkably, Clancy reports that the majority of people who told her they believed they had been abducted by aliens, did not in fact have any specific memory that this had actually occurred. They simply chose to believe this was the explanation for various anomalous, but mundane, conditions they were experiencing. Those who do have memories of alien abduction, Clancy found to have undergone either hypnosis, or other kinds of processes known to distort memories, or to create false memories. She also argues that people searching for answers and for meaning are highly motivated to mold their experiences, and even their memories, to fit seemingly all-embracing explanations in which they wish to believe.
Clancy admits that her own take on the abduction experience is not likely to convince believers that they are mistaken in their claims, but she is arguing as a scientist
about what is likely, and not as a promoter of Ufology
about what is remotely possible or effectively impossible.
Clancy appeared in the 2005 documentary UFOs: Seeing is Believing
, and in a Discovery Channel Show, Conspiracy Theory, in 2007.
published her book The Trauma Myth, in which she suggests that child sexual abuse
is rarely a traumatic experience for the victims at the time it occurs, and is instead described by victims as confusing. She argues that later in life, after the memories are processed, examined, and more fully understood, the experience becomes traumatic.
Clancy writes in “The Trauma Myth” that when she arrived at Harvard in 1996, the trauma theory held that “a child will only participate in abuse if forced, threatened, or explicitly coerced” (p. 41). Then she interviewed victims and learned, “They did not fight it. It was not done against their will. They went along . . . only 5% tried to stop it” (p. 41). Clancy concludes that since sexual abuse of children is not violent per se, the millions of victims who did not experience their sex abuse as traumatic grapple with crippling thoughts of shame, embarrassment, and self-blame, thus compounding their suffering. She advocates for a refined understanding of the immediate effects of child sex abuse in order to better help those who are currently excluded from a clinical and popular culture that embraces the trauma model.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
researcher at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in the field of memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
.
Abducted
In October 2005 her book Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens was published. Clancy came to the subject of alien abductions while studying recovered memoriesRecovered memory
Recovered memory is the description given to the apparent resurrection of the memory of events that had been forgotten or suppressed for a relatively long time. Retrograde amnesia secondary to physical or emotional trauma , or the suppression of painful memories from any cause, is an accepted concept...
, a phenomenon her research has called into question. Because her original research subjects, people who had recovered memories (generally via hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
) of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
, proved a politically sensitive group to debunk, Clancy decided to aim instead at the claims and recovered memories of alleged outer-space alien abductees. This latter group was neither viewed sympathetically by the public, thus refuting their claims would not be politically problematic, nor did its claims of alien encounters have any scientific credibility to begin with. Therefore, Clancy could focus her work on determining how exactly people came to believe they were abducted by aliens, and how they recovered memories of such a thing, while she assumed the factual nature of their claims to be prima facie false.
The latter working assumption has of course irritated many alleged abductees, including many of the people who supplied research data for Clancy's work. She argues that while she has sympathy for their experiences — all of which she says have worldly, physiological, explanations — she is not compelled from a scientific standpoint to accept their extraordinary claims on faith alone. And, remarkably, Clancy reports that the majority of people who told her they believed they had been abducted by aliens, did not in fact have any specific memory that this had actually occurred. They simply chose to believe this was the explanation for various anomalous, but mundane, conditions they were experiencing. Those who do have memories of alien abduction, Clancy found to have undergone either hypnosis, or other kinds of processes known to distort memories, or to create false memories. She also argues that people searching for answers and for meaning are highly motivated to mold their experiences, and even their memories, to fit seemingly all-embracing explanations in which they wish to believe.
Clancy admits that her own take on the abduction experience is not likely to convince believers that they are mistaken in their claims, but she is arguing as a scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
about what is likely, and not as a promoter of Ufology
Ufology
Ufology is a neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study reports and associated evidence of unidentified flying objects . UFOs have been subject to various investigations over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists...
about what is remotely possible or effectively impossible.
Clancy appeared in the 2005 documentary UFOs: Seeing is Believing
UFOs: Seeing Is Believing
UFOs: Seeing Is Believing is a two-hour American television special documentary film that aired on ABC on February 24, 2005. The program is narrated by Peter Jennings and features UFOs...
, and in a Discovery Channel Show, Conspiracy Theory, in 2007.
The Trauma Myth
In January 2010, Perseus BooksPerseus Books Group
Perseus Books Group is an American publishing company founded in 1996 by investor Frank Pearl. It was named Publisher of the Year in 2007 by Publishers Weekly magazine for its role in taking on publishers formerly distributed by Publishers Group West and acquiring Avalon Publishing Group.In January...
published her book The Trauma Myth, in which she suggests that child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
is rarely a traumatic experience for the victims at the time it occurs, and is instead described by victims as confusing. She argues that later in life, after the memories are processed, examined, and more fully understood, the experience becomes traumatic.
Clancy writes in “The Trauma Myth” that when she arrived at Harvard in 1996, the trauma theory held that “a child will only participate in abuse if forced, threatened, or explicitly coerced” (p. 41). Then she interviewed victims and learned, “They did not fight it. It was not done against their will. They went along . . . only 5% tried to stop it” (p. 41). Clancy concludes that since sexual abuse of children is not violent per se, the millions of victims who did not experience their sex abuse as traumatic grapple with crippling thoughts of shame, embarrassment, and self-blame, thus compounding their suffering. She advocates for a refined understanding of the immediate effects of child sex abuse in order to better help those who are currently excluded from a clinical and popular culture that embraces the trauma model.