Bulletin of Anomalous Experience

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 1, Number 7
Date: November 1990
Publisher: David Gotlib, M.D.
Country: Canada
Price: $20 per year

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience is a networking newsletter focused on the UFO 'Abduction' phenomenon and related topics, aimed at scientists and mental health professionals. It serves as a forum for discussion, information sharing, and debate.

Editorial

The editorial, written by David Gotlib, M.D., discusses the new Journal of UFO Studies and Robert Baker's assertion that hallucinations and personality disorders can account for abduction reports. Gotlib argues that while this may be true, it's a theoretical stance that is difficult for a front-line practitioner to accept without practical confirmation. He questions the definition of 'concrete evidence' in the context of subjective experiences and emphasizes that experiencers seeking help deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed by academics lacking practical experience with 'abductees.'

Feedback

This section features responses to a virtual conference questionnaire. Leo Sprinkle and Bruce Maccabee offer brief comments on Michael Persinger's work, with Maccabee suggesting it's a diversion. Leo Sprinkle expresses a bias towards exploring the physical, biological, psychosocial, and spiritual implications of UFO encounters, inviting readers to share material on these aspects. He also comments positively on Ed Conroy's "Report on Communion" and Fred Wolf's theories on parallel universes, suggesting UFO activity might be interpreted as 'mat' and 'demat' from one reality to another.

Networking

This section introduces key figures in the UFO research community.

Richard F. Haines, Ph.D.

Richard Haines is described as a former NASA research scientist with extensive experience in UFO phenomena studies. He has served as a scientific advisor to the Center for UFO Studies and was the first President of the North American UFO Federation. Haines has authored several books on UFOs and is interested in CE-3 and CE-4 evidence, pilot reports, and photographic evidence. He has developed a temporal regression hypnosis procedure called the "Three Stage Technique (TST)" to reduce bias in client recall and advocates for a Code of Ethics in CE-4 research. He is currently editing a book on "Multiple Abductions."

John L. Spencer

John Spencer is a member of BUFORA (British UFO Research Association Ltd.) and has held various positions within the organization. His research focuses on the interaction of the phenomenon with the human mind and he works with researchers and the medical profession. He is also an officer of ICUR and a research specialist for MUFON. Spencer has been a guest chairman and speaker at numerous international UFO conferences and has given many lectures. His publishing history includes articles, book reviews, and several books on UFOs, including "The Delegate," "UFOS - 1947/1987," "PHENOMENON," and "PERSPECTIVES." He is also involved in "THE UFO ENCYCLOPEDIA" and "WORLD ATLAS OF UFOS."

Richard Haines' Database

Richard Haines has contributed a Confidential Counselling Information Form, which he uses to gather data related to alleged abductions. The form is six pages long and covers personal information (marital status, occupation, physical and mental health), social and psychological information (free time, social groups, financial situation, life meaning, beliefs), and psychic and religious beliefs and interests (ESP abilities, clairvoyance, precognition, psychokinesis). It also includes specific UFO phenomena questions about sightings, media consumption, and opinions on the nature of UFOs, including a multiple-choice question about explanations for "UNKNOWN AERIAL PHENOMENA."

Code of Ethics

Richard Haines presents a Code of Ethics for Persons Who Work With Abductees, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct in UFO investigations and counselling. The code is divided into sections:

• 1.0 Background and Justification: Highlights the need for ethical standards due to potential legal concerns and the importance of maintaining the quality of subjective data.
• 1.1 Counsellor/Investigative Integrity: Stresses the necessity of honesty, soundness of moral principle, and character in all aspects of life, particularly in UFO studies.
• 1.2 Counsellor/Investigator Training: Emphasizes the need for preparedness, proper training, and the witness's right to know the qualifications of the investigator.
• 1.3 Counsellor/Investigator Detachment: Discusses the importance of maintaining scientific objectivity, neutrality, and emotional detachment while encouraging and supporting the witness emotionally, ensuring that detachment does not bias the witness.
• 1.4 Respect for Privacy: Affirms the constitutional right to privacy and the need to respect the witness's lifestyle, social reputation, and medical records, obtaining only relevant, case-related information.
• 1.5 Informed Consent: Requires witnesses to understand and agree in writing to the types of questions asked, tests administered, potential risks, and how information will be handled, including confidentiality and potential use in scientific publications.
• 1.6 Impartial Witnesses: Recommends the presence of at least one neutral witness during hypnosis sessions to serve as a legal representative and ensure ethical conduct, with their agreement being tape-recorded.
• 1.7 Special Procedures and Tests: Outlines that medical procedures, psychological testing, and lie detection tests should be conducted by licensed and trained professionals.

CSETI

This section introduces CSETI (The Centre for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence), an international nonprofit organization founded by Steven Greer, M.D. CSETI is dedicated to understanding Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI) and its relationship with humans, advocating for peaceful communication and exchange. The organization believes there is strong evidence for ETI visiting Earth and that bilateral communication is crucial. CSETI's principles include approaching ETI studies cooperatively and peacefully, recognizing similarities between humans and ETI, and operating on the premise that ETI motives are peaceful. Major programs include the CE-5 Initiative (human-initiated ETI contact), Project ETI-INFORM (public education), Rapid Mobilization Investigative Teams (RMIT), and CSETI Conferences and Workshops.

Conception & Birth

This article presents a case study from a therapist's patients concerning a pregnancy and birth with alleged UFO involvement. The mother recalls being visited by "little grey guys" who fertilized her egg and inserted it into her abdomen, despite using contraception. During labor, she experienced a lost hour where she was in a round room (though her labor room was square) and the "little grey guys" used a dental-like instrument on her baby. The daughter, now in her thirties, reports a lifelong history of encounters with these visitors and remembers a similar instrument being used on her. The author notes that documentation of such anomalous events from medical or nursing records would be significant.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of UFO abduction experiences, the challenges of researching them, and the ethical considerations involved. The editorial stance, as presented by David Gotlib, M.D., is one of advocating for a more open-minded and practically-grounded approach to studying UFO phenomena, emphasizing the need to take experiencers seriously and to conduct research with integrity and ethical responsibility. There is a strong focus on the scientific and psychological aspects of UFO encounters, alongside an interest in the potential spiritual implications. The issue also highlights the importance of networking and collaboration within the UFO research community, as exemplified by the profiles of Haines and Spencer and the introduction of CSETI.