They are indistinguishable from real memories. Its use would be intended to perpetuate a group into the future or to create group members with no self-will, who will behave like robots when triggered. It would be accomplished by very severe abuse starting in early childhood and continuing over a period of years. Most are of sexual molestation during childhood. These memories are believed by some to be actively suppressed by the child shortly after the event.
Recovery is often a long-term and difficult process.
Others believe that these memories are not of real events but are based upon memory fragments from horror movies, books, TV programs etc. They evolve into memories by either self-therapy or counseling with a therapist involving such suggestive techniques as hypnotism, guided imagery, dream analysis, imagining abuse, etc. The recollections may have been continuous since the abuse occurred, or they may be recovered memories. A sound, word, phrase, image or symbol which activates past programming in order to cause a SRA survivor to perform a specific act. It described horrendous sexual and physical abuse allegedly suffered by the co-author, Michelle Smith.