Commentary: Recalling as a Holistic Experience: Objects, Emotions and Meanings United

• Published in: Culture & psychology Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 485 - 495
• Main Authors: del Río, María Teresa, Molina, María Elisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-12-2009; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Accuracy; Adult abuse & neglect; Child Abuse; Child Sexual Abuse; Emotions; Females; Meaning; Memories; Memory; Psychological assessment; Semiotics; Sexual abuse; Survivor; Survivors; Trauma; Victims; Women; recollection; emotions; meaning; sexual abuse; objects
• ISSN: 1354-067X; 1461-7056
• DOI: 10.1177/1354067X09344891

Reavey and Brown (2009), in their article ‘The Mediating Role of Objects in Recollections of Adult Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse’, make an interesting review of recollections of child abuse episodes in four women. They intend to give an account, in terms of agency, responsibility and integrity, of reports of past traumatic experiences in which particular objects are considered. The mediation of objects in recollection of past memories is discussed as a relevant contribution, positioning objects as semiotic resources for the apprehension of idiosyncratic experiences and personal sense-making. It is stated that objects also allow exchange with an external interlocutor mediating assessment and psychological elaboration being carried out with survivors. Also, as parts of a holistic phenomenon of memory, objects attached to emotion and meaning contribute to the robust aspect of the way in which past experiences can be apprehended. This last issue helps to orient the discussion of accuracy and validity in traumatic memory. Agency and ambivalence as parts of human experiencing are considered relevant, highlighting two aspects: theoretical and clinical implications.