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The "Eddie Scissons Syndrome" and Fictionalized Public Confessionals

Embellishment, Storytelling, and Affecting Audience in Recall Narrative

Washington State University, Pullman

The "Eddie Scissons Syndrome," a term coined by fiction writer W. P. Kinsella, describes a phenomenon wherein people exaggerate their personal histories for their own personal gain. In this article, the phenomenon is first explored in two ways: as a trope in which fiction writers demonstrate and advance character, and as an object of academic discourse, primarily through the work of Crepeau and Scheinkopf. Furthermore, the Eddie Scissons Syndrome phenomenon is used to explore some current public exaggerations, in particular the United States' governmental justification for a preemptive strike on Iraq, and to advance concerns about both private and public truth claims.

Key Words: fiction • truth claims • public disclosure • private disclosure

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