Note that this repression process is completely automatic and does not involve conscious intent. Freud's theories all came together in his technique and philosophy of psychoanalysis , and repression has been a key concept within that philosophy ever since. There has, however, been some progress in investigating the issue from naturalistic studies in which known cases of child abuse are followed by researchers over the course of many years. In this research 1,2 the abuse is well documented, so if the child forgets about it, that also can be documented. The camps are clearly divided here, some saying that these things happen all the time and that they reflect historically real events, while others say that recovered memories are false.
Some groups even argue about the definition and reality of the mechanism of repression.
It can get very ugly. I have even seen improvement in physiological symptoms apparently because of previously forgotten events that were recalled and discussed in therapy. It would require intense scientific scrutiny to allow these personal revelations to take on any legal or cultural significance, or to use them to substantiate any theoretical claims. All objective details would have to be meticulously verified by outside sources. I've had to come to terms with remembered experiences in my own life that were later shown to be seriously distorted.