BAE 3.5

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience (BAE), Volume 3, Number 5, dated October 1992, focuses on the complex and often controversial topic of UFO abductions and related anomalous experiences. The editor notes the growing subscription list, primarily from mental health professionals and academics, and the ongoing debate stimulated by articles on the subject. The issue features a prominent article by Barbara Becker responding to Richard Boylan, discussions on ASC-proneness, and a theoretical link between UFO abductions and abortion experiences.

In This Issue

The issue highlights several key articles and features:

• More on Ann Druffel's "Can Unwanted UFO Contact Be Resisted?" -- Barbara Becker responds to Richard Boylan: This section initiates a debate on the nature of UFO contact and abduction, with Becker critiquing Boylan's views.
• David Ritchey on ASC-Proneness: Explores the concept of individuals being predisposed to alternate states of consciousness (ASC).
• Dennis Stacy on Abductions and Abortions: Presents a theory linking UFO abduction experiences to the psychological impact of abortion.
• Networking: John J. Piolo, Ph.D.: Information on professional networking and referrals for abduction experiences.
• Seminars: U.S.A. and Canada: Announcements for upcoming workshops and seminars on extraterrestrial contact and related topics.
• Feature Article: CE-IV Exposure with Positive Mental Health Outcomes and Generally Without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, by Richard Boylan, Ph.D.: Discusses the psychological effects of Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE-IV) and proposes that they do not always lead to PTSD.
• The Latest from Persinger: A summary of research on neuropsychological profiles of adults reporting sudden recall of childhood memories, including sex abuse and alien visitation experiences.
• Book Excerpt: The Terror That Comes In The Night, by David Hufford, Ph.D.: An excerpt from Hufford's work on the 'Old Hag' phenomenon and its application to abduction research.
• Abstracts: Brief summaries of research or articles.

Editor's Notes

The editor expresses satisfaction with BAE's role as a forum for frank discussion, citing the ongoing debate initiated by Ann Druffel's article and Richard Boylan's comment. The subscription list is growing, with most new subscribers being mental health professionals and academics, largely acquired through word-of-mouth. The editor plans to survey subscribers on their willingness to be included in a master list and welcomes suggestions for a "Recommended Reading List."

Barbara Becker Responds to Richard Boylan

Barbara Becker critiques Richard Boylan's commentary on Ann Druffel's article, finding Boylan's tone "hysterical" and his arguments flawed. She distinguishes between "contactees" and "abductees," arguing that Boylan conflates the two and uses the term "experiencer" too broadly. Becker contends that abduction involves a violation of personal rights, akin to rape, and questions Boylan's assertion that ETs are concerned about Earth's ecology, suggesting it reflects human worries. She dismisses Boylan's claims of ETs providing medical diagnoses or cures as unsubstantiated and questions the justification for abduction based on a few "good deeds." Becker also criticizes Boylan's notion of "helpful amnesia" and his comparison of ETs to explorers like Columbus, arguing that ETs are more akin to plunderers.

David Ritchey on ASC Proneness

David Ritchey expresses enthusiasm for the Bulletin and suggests the idea of a professional subscriber list. He raises concerns about potential intrusive mail and calls if such a list were to fall into the wrong hands. Ritchey posits that anomalous experiences generally occur during alternate states of consciousness and questions whether individuals are born "ASC-prone," encouraged to develop it, or have it thrust upon them by abusive childhoods. He suggests that being born ASC-prone increases the likelihood of it being enhanced by encouragement or abuse, possibly linked to "anomalous cerebral dominance" and greater participation of the non-dominant hemisphere.

Dennis Stacy on Abductions and Abortions

Dennis Stacy proposes a theory that UFO abductions are a reliving of the abortion experience. He bases this on two assumptions: the existence of a "New Revised Abduction Scenario" (NRAS) distinct from Eddie Bullard's original, which includes hybrid babies and is promoted by researchers like Budd Hopkins and David Jacobs; and the dramatic increase in potential abductees in recent years, citing the Roper Report's estimate of 3.7 million adult Americans. Stacy argues that the sheer numbers suggest a terrestrial, not extraterrestrial, origin. He likens the abduction experience to David Hufford's "Old Hag" experience, characterized by wakefulness, immobility, realistic perception, and fear. Stacy suggests that the NRAS, with its emphasis on genetic material extraction and hybrid babies, mirrors the abortion experience, including the concept of a "missing fetus." He posits that the abduction experience serves to reduce guilt associated with abortion. He also critiques the "abducting Grays" as personifications of guilt and contrasts the NRAS with the "Old Hag" experience, noting the former's sexual component and the latter's lack thereof.

Book Excerpt: The Terror That Comes In The Night

This excerpt from David J. Hufford's book emphasizes the "experience-centered approach" to studying paranormal phenomena, particularly the "Old Hag" experience. Hufford stresses the importance of distinguishing between abduction experiences and other anomalous phenomena. The excerpt outlines the primary features of the "Old Hag" phenomenon: subjective wakefulness, immobility, realistic perception of the environment, and fear. It also details secondary features like supine position, feeling of presence, pressure on the chest, numinous quality, and fear of death. The excerpt discusses the frequency and distribution of the experience, noting that 23% of the sample reported it, with no significant difference between sexes. It highlights that the experience is often reported occasionally, with some experiencing "runs" of frequent attacks. Hufford's approach prioritizes raw observational data over theoretical frameworks, aiming to understand when and under what circumstances supernatural beliefs might be accurate, rather than solely seeking to disprove them.

The Latest from Persinger

This section summarizes a study by M.A. Persinger on neuropsychological profiles of adults reporting sudden recall of childhood memories, including sex abuse or alien abduction/visitation experiences. The study found that subjects who experienced these "sudden rememberings" under hypnosis displayed significant elevations in childhood imaginings, complex partial epileptic-like signs, and suggestibility. Neuropsychological data indicated right frontotemporal anomalies and reduced access to the right parietal lobe. The findings support the hypothesis that enhanced imagery due to temporal lobe lability, combined with social context and misattribution, can lead to the formation of such memories.

Seminars U.S.A.

Announcements are made for several seminars and workshops:

• Extraterrestrial Contact: The Meaning and the Message: A public forum in Sacramento, CA, featuring experts and experiencers discussing the value and messages of extraterrestrial contact.
• "UFOs, Extraterrestrial Contact, and the Secret Government Cover-up": A course in Sacramento, CA, exploring government knowledge and messages from visitors.
• The International UFO Congress: Held in Las Vegas, NV, featuring speakers on government cover-ups, UFO photos, alien examinations, and abduction phenomena.

Seminars: Canada

• The Premiere E.T.I. Seminar: A weekend seminar in Banff, Canada, hosted by Dr. L.J. Vassos and featuring Dr. Leo Sprinkle, focusing on the investigation, interpretation, and integration of extraterrestrial intelligence contact experiences, including a workshop on hypnosis.

CE-IV Exposure with Positive Mental Health Outcomes and Generally Without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Feature Article)

Richard Boylan, Ph.D., presents his research on Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE-IV). He outlines two main positions in the ufological community: the "Severe-Trauma School" and the "Expanded Consciousness School." The Severe-Trauma School predicts effects like anxiety, amnesia, dissociation, nightmares, phobic reactions, and PTSD, with ETs seen as threats and a sense of powerlessness. The Expanded Consciousness School, however, proposes that CE-IV experiences can lead to anxiety, partial amnesia, dissociation, nightmares, and phobic reactions, but also to curiosity about ETs, fascination with interstellar contact, a broadened cosmic perspective, and global humanitarian concern. Boylan's research suggests that CE-IV experiences do not necessarily lead to PTSD, proposing a new descriptor, "CE-IV Syndrome," for reactions affecting daily living and social relationships. He identifies eight variables affecting the stressfulness of CE-IV, including the ET's appearance and "bedside manner," the government cover-up campaign, the investigator's perspective, and the availability of prompt debriefing and social support. Boylan argues against the myth that CE-IV causes PTSD, citing reasons such as avoiding "Interstellar Racism," avoiding imposing PTSD expectations, and preventing a political climate defining ETs as enemies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the psychological and sociological implications of UFO experiences, particularly abductions. There's a clear emphasis on the debate between different interpretations of these phenomena, with a strong undercurrent of critical analysis of established theories. The editor's stance appears to be one of fostering open discussion and providing a platform for diverse viewpoints, even when they are controversial or challenge prevailing ideas within the ufology community. The issue highlights the growing interest in these topics from mental health professionals, suggesting a move towards integrating anomalous experiences into psychological research and practice. The debate between Becker and Boylan, and Stacy's theory linking abductions to abortion, exemplify the magazine's commitment to exploring unconventional and sometimes provocative ideas.

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Vol. 3 No. 5
Date: October 1992

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience, a networking newsletter focusing on the UFO abduction phenomenon and related issues for mental health professionals and interested scientists, presents a collection of recent abstracts of interest. The publication aims to "comfortably tread the narrow path between the groves of academia and the dust and heat of the marketplace, inquiring and suggesting, not asserting or insisting."

Recent Abstracts of Interest

Dissociative Experiences in the General Population in the Netherlands and Belgium This study, published in Dissociation, describes the first European investigation into the prevalence of dissociative experiences using the Dissociative Questionnaire (DIS-Q) in the Netherlands and Belgium. A representative sample of 374 Dutch and Flemish individuals participated. The findings indicate that dissociative experiences are common in the general population, with frequency decreasing with age. Approximately 3% of the population reported serious dissociative phenomena, and 1% exhibited scores comparable to patients with multiple personality disorder. The authors suggest that dissociative disorders are significantly under-diagnosed by mental health professionals.

Using Hypnosis for Therapeutic Abreactions An article from Psychiatric Medicine discusses abreaction, the intense reliving of traumatic events under hypnosis, as a potent therapeutic intervention for trauma victims. First utilized in World War I, abreaction, when combined with psychotherapeutic processing of recovered material, is increasingly employed for victims of child abuse and chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Abreactions are beneficial for retrieving dissociated or repressed material, reconnecting affect with recalled memories, and transforming traumatic memories. While abreactions can be induced pharmacologically, hypnosis is the preferred method, except in acute situations where rapport is difficult to establish. The article reviews various hypnotic techniques for inducing and managing abreaction, along with their indications and contraindications.

High and Low Dissociators in a College Student Population This study, published in Dissociation, examined a sample of 345 college students using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Twenty-two subjects scored below 5, and 20 scored above 22.6. These groups were interviewed using the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule and assessed with the SCL-90 and Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. Significant differentiation was observed across all three measures between high and low scorers on the DES. Notably, 70% of the high scorers (DES > 22.6) met criteria for a DSM-IIIR dissociative disorder, whereas none of the low scorers did. Extrapolating from these findings, the study estimates the prevalence of dissociative disorders among college students to be 11%.

Expectations and Interpretations in Hypnotic Responding Published in the Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, this study investigated 304 subjects' expectations regarding hypnotic suggestions. Before hypnotic induction, subjects rated their expected response. After induction but before test suggestions, they re-rated their expectations and indicated their intention to adopt one of three interpretations: resisting suggestions, actively generating suggested effects, or passively waiting. Subjects were then assessed on behavioral and subjective measures of hypnotizability. Post-induction expectancies showed a stronger correlation with hypnotizability than preinduction expectancies. Actively adopting a set towards suggestions also correlated with hypnotizability. Contrary to the response expectancy hypothesis, active interpretation scores predicted hypnotizability independently of postinduction expectancies. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Pseudomemory in Hypnotized and Task-Motivated Subjects This research, from the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, involved highly hypnotizable (H; n=16) and task-motivated (TM; n=13) subjects who received pseudomemory suggestions. TM subjects reported feeling more alert and motivated and were more likely to pass a target noise suggestion. However, 69% of subjects in both conditions who passed the noise suggestion reported pseudomemories. The rate of pseudomemory was not reduced by informing subjects they could distinguish reality from fantasy, even in a state of deep concentration. At final inquiry, pseudomemories remained stable. As predicted, H subjects reported more unsuggested noises and more pseudomemories of novel noises than TM subjects. Subjects reporting pseudomemories expressed greater confidence in their accuracy compared to those who believed the suggested noises were imagined.

Tobacyk's Sex Differences in the Experiences of Ego-Alien Intrusions This study, published in Perceptual and Motor Skills, administered the Tobacyk's Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and an inventory for temporal lobe signs to 44 men and 54 women. Women generally held stronger beliefs in psi phenomena, witchcraft, and spiritualism, while men believed more in extraterrestrial life forms. Moderate correlations (0.40) were found between complex partial epileptic-like signs and total beliefs for both sexes, with ego-alien intrusions being the dominant experience for women. The findings support the concept of greater interhemispheric coherence in women and highlight the role of limbic processes in the formation of religious and paranormal beliefs.

Ross CA Joshi S Paranormal Experiences in the General Population This study, from the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, administered the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule to 502 adults in Winnipeg, Canada. Results indicated that paranormal/extrasensory experiences are common and linked to a history of childhood trauma and other dissociative symptom clusters. A factor analysis identified three factors accounting for 44% of the variance. The authors propose a model where paranormal experiences are conceptualized as an aspect of normal dissociation, potentially triggered by trauma, particularly childhood physical or sexual abuse. Such experiences significantly differentiate individuals with childhood trauma histories.

An Unusual Case of Hypnotic Regression with Some Unexplained Contents An article from the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research details a case where a patient, referred to as L.D., underwent "past-life" hypnotic regressions. One "life" as 16th-century Spanish Antonia became so consuming that it interfered with her present functioning. Extensive research, including travel and correspondence with historians, verified over 100 facts from these "memories" without uncovering errors. Much of L.D.'s information was found in obscure Spanish sources or archives, and L.D. had no prior knowledge of Spanish or experience with Spain. While another form of therapy resolved L.D.'s obsession, the source of her information remains a mystery. Fourteen possible theories are discussed, including psychodynamic factors, fraud, cryptomnesia, role playing, dissociation, genetic memory, racial memory, clairvoyance, precognition, retrocognition, telepathy, mediumship, possession, and reincarnation.

Prior Abuse Stokes Combat Reactions An excerpt from Science News discusses research suggesting that psychological wounds from combat, particularly in soldiers with a history of child abuse, may promote the development of PTSD. Abused individuals may emotionally wall off experiences through dissociation. A study comparing Vietnam veterans with PTSD to those without PTSD found that 29% of the PTSD group reported childhood physical or sexual abuse, compared to 7% in the other group. This difference persisted even when controlling for combat exposure. While the data do not imply causation, it is suggested that individuals with a history of child abuse may have a heightened "sensitivity" to developing PTSD in response to trauma.

About Bulletin of Anomalous Experience

The Bulletin of Anomalous Experience is a networking newsletter for the UFO abduction phenomenon and related issues, aimed at mental health professionals and interested scientists. It strives to "comfortably tread the narrow path between the groves of academia and the dust and heat of the marketplace, inquiring and suggesting, not asserting or insisting." Subscriptions are $20 per calendar year, with back issues available. Contributions are the property of the authors, and reproduction requires express written permission. The publication is also available on the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link) conferencing system. Contact information for the editor, David Gotlib, M.D., and Associate Editor, Joanne Hager, Ph.D., is provided, including mailing address, telephone, fax, and CompuServe details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of anomalous experiences, particularly dissociative phenomena, hypnosis, and paranormal beliefs. The editorial stance, as indicated by the publication's mission statement, is one of open inquiry and suggestion rather than assertion, fostering a space for discussion among professionals and interested individuals in the field of anomalous experiences.