BAE 2.3

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 2, Number 3
Date: April 1991

This issue of the "Bulletin of Anomalous Experience" delves into the complex world of UFO abduction phenomena, psychological factors influencing these experiences, and the challenges of studying them from both scientific and intelligence perspectives. The publication serves as a networking newsletter for mental health professionals and scientists interested in the UFO abduction phenomenon.

Editorial Musings

The editor expresses happiness with the reader feedback received and notes the formation of a network of clinicians interested in studying the phenomenon. The issue includes a renewal notice for subscriptions, with the goal of BAE becoming self-supporting. The editor also discusses efforts to establish credibility in the field, recounting appearances on media programs and an article in "The Medical Post" that focused on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in abductees. This approach, emphasizing clinical issues and data collection, is seen as a way to gain acceptance within mainstream science and medicine.

Reader Contributions (Mail!)

The "Mail!" section features several reader contributions:

• Barbara Boyle (RN) emphasizes the critical role of the newsletter in preparing mental health professionals for a potential "greatest crisis in human history" related to alien intrusion, stressing the need for effective networks.
• Brian Thompson (MD) expresses interest in the electromagnetic aspects of UFO experiences, noting reports of disruptions to banking machines and computers, as well as "Street Light Interference."
• Hilary Evans (author & researcher) thanks the bulletin for the space granted to his previous letter and commends the publication for navigating the space between academia and the public.
• Jean Mundy (psychologist) seeks financial backing for a play titled "Believe Me!" based on a true UFO contact story involving a military family. She also contributes a letter to "OMNI" magazine, taking issue with a study suggesting alien abductees are "disturbed" and victims of sexual abuse. Mundy argues that other studies show abductees to be mentally healthy and critiques the potential bias of therapists who dismiss such experiences based on their own worldviews.

Networking

This section introduces readers and their interests. Don C. Donderi, an Associate Professor of Psychology at McGill University, profiles himself. His research interests are in human visual perception and memory, and he has been interested in UFOs since 1966. He was part of NICAP's "occupant panel" and previously with UFO-Quebec. Donderi states his belief that the UFO phenomenon is not purely psychological.

Toward a Survey of UFO Abduction Experiences

This article discusses the need for a comprehensive national survey to determine the prevalence of abduction experiences. It references past efforts like the "Census of Hallucinations" and studies by Andrew M. Greeley. The article highlights the challenges of surveying abductions, including informants who may not consciously recall events or may use different terminology for their experiences (e.g., "spirited" house instead of "haunted"). It notes that a two-part study, involving a broad survey followed by in-depth interviews, might be necessary. The article also touches on the difficulty of eliciting honest responses due to the stigma associated with such beliefs.

The Omega Project: A Psychological Survey of Persons Reporting Abductions and Other UFO Encounters

This section summarizes a study by Kenneth Ring and Christopher J. Rosing published in the "Journal of UFO Studies." The study surveyed 264 individuals, comparing UFO experiencers (including abductees) with control groups interested in UFOs or near-death experiences (NDEs). Key findings include:

• UFO experiencers are psychologically similar to those with other types of UFO encounters and also comparable to NDE experiencers.
• UFO and NDE experiencers, compared to controls, reported higher incidences of childhood abuse, trauma, and serious childhood illness.
• Experiencers reported significantly more psychophysical changes following their encounters than controls.
• UFO and NDE experiencers showed a shift toward increased altruism, social concern, and spirituality, with NDE respondents showing a greater shift on altruistic and materialistic values.
• Regarding the purpose of these phenomena, NDE respondents tended to see a religious meaning, while UFO respondents were more divided and more convinced of extraterrestrial influence.
• The study concluded that while psychological factors may not cause these phenomena, they sensitize individuals to them, and that experiencers are distinctive. It calls for more in-depth psychological and laboratory studies.

The Intelligence Perspective on UFOs

This essay by Don Donderi argues that the "intelligence perspective" on UFOs differs from a purely scientific one. Drawing parallels to wartime intelligence, he emphasizes the need to consider all data, even seemingly "noise," and to avoid the limitations of narrow scientific specialization. Donderi uses the parable of the blind men and the elephant to illustrate how scientists, focused on their own fields, may fail to grasp the larger phenomenon. He suggests that a "scientific intelligence expert" needs a broader perspective to critically examine inter-related phenomena, including abduction accounts, trace evidence, and radar-visual evidence. The essay critiques the defense of conventional science, which prioritizes explanation within established channels over exploration, and highlights the importance of exploring hypotheses even without immediate mechanistic explanations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature and study of UFO abduction experiences. There is a strong emphasis on the need for rigorous, scientific investigation, particularly from psychological and medical perspectives. The bulletin advocates for networking among professionals and for collecting data in a way that can be understood and accepted by mainstream science. The editorial stance supports the idea that UFO experiences, while potentially having a common underlying source with NDEs, are not purely psychological and warrant serious study. The "intelligence perspective" is presented as a valuable, broader approach to understanding complex phenomena like UFOs, urging researchers to look beyond narrow specializations and consider all available evidence.

This issue of the "Bulletin of Anomalous Experience," Volume 2, Number 3, dated January 1991, explores several intriguing topics related to anomalous experiences. The cover prominently features the headline "Creation of Pseudomemories Through Hypnosis," indicating a focus on the psychological aspects of memory and belief. The magazine also delves into the phenomenon of Street Lamp Interference (SLI), the role of photography in shaping our perception of reality, particularly concerning UFOs, and the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on these subjects.

Creation of Pseudomemories Through Hypnosis

The lead article discusses how hypnosis can be used to create pseudomemories. It acknowledges that hypnotic recall is not always 100% accurate and that skeptics suggest abduction experiences might be "created" through suggestibility. However, the article presents research from Concordia University by Louise Labelle, Jean-Roch Laurence, Robert Nadon, and Campbell Perry, published in the "Journal of Abnormal Psychology." This study demonstrates that subjects with high hypnotic abilities and a preference for an imagic cognitive style are particularly vulnerable to suggested memory distortion. The research found that highly and moderately-highly hypnotizable subjects were more likely to believe suggested pseudomemories as veridical. The study highlights that hypnotic susceptibility, preference for an imagic cognitive style (measured by the PICS test), and the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS) are significant predictors of pseudomemory creation. The procedure involved age-regressing subjects to a specific night, suggesting loud noises, and then interviewing them to assess whether they incorporated the suggested memory. The results indicated that the incidence of memory creation was similar to previous findings, reinforcing the idea that hypnosis can indeed create false autobiographical memories.

More on SLIDE: Street Lamp Interference Data Exchange

This section provides an update on Hilary Evans' project, SLIDE, which collects information about people who appear to affect street lamps. The article, excerpted from the newsletter "Sliding" (January 1991), confirms that the Street Lamp Interference (SLI) effect is real, with many respondents reporting similar experiences. While the exact mechanism is unknown, the phenomenon is not considered an illusion. The primary relief for those experiencing SLI is finding they are not alone. The experiences vary, with some people turning lamps off, others turning them on, and some changing their state. The frequency of these events ranges from continuous to intermittent. The type of lamp affected is also variable, including mercury vapour and sodium lamps. The distance from the person to the lamp can range from directly beneath to over 100 meters away. The duration of the effect is usually short, with lamps functioning normally the next day, though some effects can last longer. The article notes that most SLIders do not turn lamps on to order, though exceptions exist. It dismisses the idea that light-sensing devices are accidentally triggered, citing contradictions. The author suggests that SLI requires a convergence of three elements: the individual's ability, appropriate circumstances (often linked to states of mind like anger, terror, happiness, or heightened consciousness), and a suitable target. The article also touches upon experiences with other electrical appliances and the implication that the SLI effect might be on the lamp's status rather than the lamp itself.

UFO's and the Cult of Photography

This section, featuring contributions from Sharon Sandusky and Edward Shelton, explores the relationship between photography, reality, and UFO phenomena. The authors argue that photographic images hold a unique authority in representing reality, often used to sway public opinion. However, they introduce the concept of the "unfilmable" – phenomena that are difficult or impossible to capture convincingly on film, such as paranormal events. UFO sightings are presented as a prime example of the unfilmable. The article distinguishes between UFO investigators, who evaluate physical evidence, and UFO witnesses, who claim otherworldly experiences. It suggests that for witnesses, the feeling of the experience is paramount, and photographic evidence may be secondary. For those who haven't had the experience, concrete evidence, including photographs, becomes crucial. The authors critique the "debunkers" who seek to invalidate UFO experiences and highlight how the demand for proof can become obsessive. They argue that photography alone cannot serve as definitive proof for UFOs and should be considered supplementary to witness testimony and physical traces. The article posits that the unfilmability of UFOs may indicate phenomena beyond our current recording capabilities, urging an open evaluation of events in the cosmos.

A Journalist Tries to Make Sense of an Anomalous Phenomenon

John Wilson recounts his frustrating experience as a journalist commissioned to write a scientific piece on crop circles for a weekly newsmagazine. His research involved contacting scientists at Canadian universities and government organizations, but he was met with apologetic shrugs and rude brush-offs, with no one willing to offer an opinion or discuss ongoing studies. He contrasts this with his encounters with believers in extraterrestrial visitors, whom he found to be sane, rational, and capable of good description, though they sometimes lacked scientific literacy. Wilson notes that while scientists dismissed wilder explanations for crop circles, they were unwilling to comment, possibly fearing misquotation or ridicule. He highlights a study indicating low scientific literacy among Canadian adults, who show more interest in scientific issues than knowledge. Wilson concludes that scientists have a responsibility to communicate their knowledge, even outside their narrow disciplines, and that the lack of scientific input made it easier to write the piece for supermarket tabloids than for a serious publication. He mentions T.H. Huxley's view that "irrationally held truths may be more harmful that reasoned errors."

Some final words

This section includes a brief note from the editor mentioning information received from Leo Sprinkle about an innovative treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Eye Movement Desensitization) that could not be included in this issue. The editor also thanks contributors and invites readers, particularly new subscribers from Canada, to share their thoughts, musings, and ideas. The forum aims to continue as long as there is participation from the mental health and scientific community. Contributions for the next issue are due by the end of May.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of anomalous experiences, the reliability of memory, the influence of psychological factors, and the challenges of investigating phenomena that defy conventional scientific explanation. The magazine consistently questions the boundaries of reality and evidence, particularly in the context of UFOs and other unexplained events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the exploration of these phenomena while maintaining a critical approach to evidence and interpretation. There is a clear emphasis on the psychological dimensions of belief and experience, as seen in the articles on pseudomemories and the subjective nature of UFO witness accounts. The issue also highlights the difficulties in bridging the gap between anomalous experiences and mainstream scientific acceptance, pointing to the reticence of scientists and the public's susceptibility to sensationalism. The publication seems to advocate for a more nuanced understanding of reality that acknowledges phenomena that may be currently unrecordable or unexplainable by conventional means.