Topic: Memory

There is a vast literature on the science of memory. These are some papers which have looked at memory specifically related to the process of seeking asylum:


Hilary Evans Cameron's paper linking asylum decisions to specific studies of memory is important reading for everyone involved in asylum decision making Cameron, H. "Refugee status determinations and the limits of memory." (2010) 22(4) International Journal of Refugee Law 469-511


Laura Jobson's study of cultural differences raises important questions about how western decision-making processes are based on a particular notion of what human memory is for Jobson, L. "Cultural Differences in Specificity of Autobiographical Memories: Implications for Asylum Decisions" (2009) 16(3) Psychiatry, Psychology and Law 453-457


Below are links to CSEL resources that deal with memory:


A review of adolescent autobiographical memory and the implications for assessment of unaccompanied minors’ refugee determinationsA review of adolescents' autobiographical memory as pertinent to the assessment of protection claims. Given-Wilson, Z., Hodes, M. & Herlihy, J. A review of adolescent autobiographical memory and the implications for assessment of unaccompanied minors’ refugee determinations. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517748697


Overgeneral memory in asylum seekers and refugees This paper demonstrates that overgeneral memory is present for asylum seekers and refugees with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. Graham, B., Herlihy, J. & Brewin, Chris R. (2014). Overgeneral memory in asylum seekers and refugees. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 45 375-380


Remembering episodes of sexual violence: the impact of post-traumatic stress on evidence An article by CSEL's Amina Memon in the Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid newsletter (now Rights in Exile). Memon, A. (2012). Remembering episodes of sexual violence: the impact of post-traumatic stress on evidence [newsletter article]. Retrieved from http://rightsinexile.tumblr.com/post/34698036558/r...


Just Tell Us What Happened to You: Autobiographical Memory and Seeking Asylum This paper reviews the literature on autobiographical memory, linking it to the asylum process. Herlihy, J., Jobson, L. and Turner, S. (2012). Just Tell Us What Happened to You: Autobiographical Memory and Seeking Asylum. Applied Cognitive Psychology 26 661–676


Should discrepant accounts given by asylum seekers be taken as proof of deceit? The results of our study of inconsistencies in traumatic memories, expanded and further explained. Herlihy, J. & Turner, S.W. (2006). Should discrepant accounts given by asylum seekers be taken as proof of deceit? Torture 16(2) 81-92.


Discrepancies in autobiographical memories— implications for the assessment of asylum seekers: repeated interviews study This paper showed experimentally that people are more likely to give inconsistent answers when asked about the peripheral details of traumatic experiences (compared to central details and non-traumatic experiences). It also showed that for people with more symptoms of PTSD, the likelihood of inconsistencies goes up as the delay between interviews gets longer. Herlihy, J., Scragg P, and Turner S. (2002). Discrepancies in autobiographical memories-implications for the assessment of asylum seekers: repeated interviews study. British Medical Journal 324 324-7.