Sexual assault survivors’ stories may shift over time – a psychologist explains why it doesn’t mean they’re lying

The brain’s acute response to the trauma of sexual assault can block a person’s ability to accurately assess what they experienced.

By: Michele Patterson Ford, Dickinson College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 9, 2026

Words: 1,091

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

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By Michele Patterson Ford, Dickinson College

If a person’s story changes in the weeks following an alleged sexual assault, are they not telling the truth?

It’s a criticism I’ve seen on social media and heard in the public conversation surrounding the lawsuit filed in September 2026 by a plaintiff known as Jane Doe, a former student at Cornell University, accusing seven male students of rape.

Initially, Doe discussed events with a friend but

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