REALL News - Vol 08 No 02

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 8, Number 2, published in February 2000, is the special seventh-anniversary issue of the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). The publication is dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method applied to paranormal and fringe-science claims. This issue features a lengthy excerpt from Michael Shermer's book "How We Believe," focusing on the phenomenon of mediumship and belief in communication with the dead. It also includes regular columns and articles on skepticism, media criticism, and scientific inquiry.

Talking Twaddle with the Dead: A Book Excerpt from How We Believe by Michael Shermer

This excerpt critically examines the claims of James Van Praagh, a popular medium who asserts he can communicate with deceased loved ones. Shermer questions Van Praagh's methods, detailing his appearances on television shows and his background in the entertainment industry. Van Praagh's biography reveals a path from considering the priesthood to working in Hollywood, where he eventually embraced his role as a spirit medium. His discovery by NBC's "The Other Side" propelled him to fame.

Shermer analyzes Van Praagh's techniques, categorizing them as cold reading (eliciting information through questions and general statements), warm reading (using common psychological principles, like the significance of jewelry or photographs), and hot reading (gathering information beforehand). He provides examples, such as Van Praagh's alleged misidentification of a dog as a deceased relative and a case where information was seemingly obtained during a break in filming.

Shermer draws an analogy between believing in mediums and gambling, suggesting that intermittent reinforcement, where payoffs are unpredictable, keeps people engaged. He argues that the emotional payoff of believing lost loved ones are not dead and can be communicated with is a powerful motivator, making people forgiving of frequent misses.

The article also touches upon the psychological aspect of belief, referencing B.F. Skinner's work on reinforcement schedules. Shermer suggests that Van Praagh's success, despite a lower hit rate than many gambling games, is due to the profound emotional need people have to believe in an afterlife and continued connection with deceased loved ones.

Shermer questions whether Van Praagh is deceiving others or himself, leaning towards conscious deception based on his observations. He notes that the psychic industry consensus is that Van Praagh knows exactly what he is doing.

The Tragedy of Death

The article posits that the primary reason James Van Praagh can succeed with questionable techniques is that he deals with the profound tragedy and finality of death. This universal experience makes people vulnerable and susceptible to emotional appeals. Shermer recounts a personal experience on April 2, 1998, which prompted him to consider how to respond to those experiencing grief. He contrasts Van Praagh's purported message of comfort with his own perspective, emphasizing that while grief is natural and a sign of love, the hope offered by mediums may be a false one.

Shermer argues that if loved ones could communicate, they would likely do so directly rather than through a paid medium in a public setting. He criticizes the financial aspect of mediumship, questioning why people need to pay for such communication. He also addresses Van Praagh's accusation of him being a "rat fink," interpreting it as an exposure of the truth.

Shermer concludes this section by offering his own message to those grieving, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging their pain, grieving freely, and celebrating the love for their lost ones, asserting that loved ones live on in memory and in the lives of those who remember them. He frames this as a fundamental human right and freedom, contrasting it with the "inhuman" act of offering false hope.

REALLity Checklist – 1999 in Review by David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg's annual "REALLity Checklist" reviews notable media stories from 1999. He announces a change for the following year, inviting REALL members to submit nominations for awards. The checklist highlights both positive and negative examples of media coverage related to skeptical inquiry.

Best Local Story Award

The award goes to an article by Sarah Antonacci for its handling of the "face in the tree" phenomenon in Springfield. The story, which appeared in the State Journal-Register, treated the claim of seeing a baby's face in a tree knothole with skepticism, humorously noting the various explanations offered by believers and the eventual fate of the tree as "miracle mulch." The article is praised for interviewing a skeptic and for its witty headlines.

Worst Local Story Award

This award is given to Nancy Steele Brokaw of The Pantagraph for an article promoting the psychic powers of the late Greta Alexander. Bloomberg criticizes the article for lacking documentation and for relying on anecdotal claims, particularly regarding Alexander's alleged aid to police departments. He questions the value of such a story, especially when it lacks new predictions or anniversaries.

Worst National Story Award

Discover magazine receives this award for Brad Lemley's article on Andrew Weil. Bloomberg contends that the article failed to provide scientific review or answer the cover question about the efficacy of Weil's medicine, instead presenting a "human interest" piece that ignored critical information from sources like The New Republic.

Worst Political Move Award

Springfield mayoral candidate Allan Woodson is cited for supporting an unproven method to remove pollutants from coal. The technology, promoted by local residents, was rejected as unproven and risky by the industry. Woodson's support for this fringe science is criticized.

Book Recommendations by David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg provides brief reviews of several books:

• The Undiscovered Mind: How the Human Brain Defies Replication, Medication, and Explanation by John Horgan: Explores mind-science, questioning the efficacy of various approaches and raising questions about consciousness. Rated 4 stars.
• Too Good to Be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand: A comprehensive collection and debunking of urban legends. Rated 4 stars.
• Carl Sagan: A Life by Keay Davidson: A biography of Carl Sagan, charting his life and complexities. Rated 4 stars.
• Almost Everyone's Guide to Science: The Universe, Life, and Everything by John Gribbin, with Mary Gribbin: A book aiming to explain science to the general public, linking theory and experiment. Rated 4 stars.

The Placebo Effect — Is it of Medical Value? by Edvard A. Hemmingsen

This article explores the phenomenon of the placebo effect, defined as a psychological or psychophysiological therapeutic effect produced by a placebo. The author notes that while physicians have been aware of this effect for a long time, its stigma and lack of predictability have made them reluctant to use it overtly in therapy. The placebo effect began to be scientifically scrutinized in the 1950s with the introduction of double-blind clinical trials.

The article explains that placebos can lessen pain and subjective suffering by influencing perception and the body's natural healing processes, as well as through mind-body interactions that reduce fear and anxiety. It highlights the body's immune system and its ability to fight off disease, noting that stress and anxiety can impair this system. While placebos can help with "illness" (symptoms like pain or nausea), they rarely cure "disease" (abnormal states of the body).

Studies suggest that endorphins, natural painkillers in the brain, might be involved in the pain-reducing effects of placebos, though research in this area is inconclusive. The author raises the ethical dilemma of whether physicians should prescribe placebos, noting that their effectiveness is lost if patients know they are receiving a sham treatment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The REALL News consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to claims of the paranormal and fringe science. The articles in this issue, particularly Michael Shermer's excerpt and David Bloomberg's "REALLity Checklist," exemplify this stance by critically examining purported psychic abilities, media sensationalism, and pseudoscientific claims. The publication aims to educate its readers, encourage critical thinking, and provide a platform for reasoned inquiry into topics often shrouded in belief or misinformation. The editorial stance is clearly against unsubstantiated claims and in favor of evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the critique of James Van Praagh and the analysis of the placebo effect.

Title: The REALL News
Issue Date: February 2000
Volume: 5
Issue: 11

This issue of The REALL News delves into the complex topic of the placebo effect, its ethical considerations, and its relationship with alternative medicine. It also announces an upcoming meeting focused on a scientific concept called 'Self-Organizing Criticality.'

The Placebo Effect and Medical Ethics

The lead article discusses the nature of the placebo effect, noting that while it can provide significant benefits, its use by physicians raises ethical questions. The author points out that in many cases where placebos are effective, physicians also have access to scientifically proven therapies. The article highlights that many medications used by physicians have not undergone rigorous double-blind trials, and their efficacy may be partly due to the placebo effect. The most powerful placebo benefit, it is argued, comes from the physician's ability to create a healing environment through confidence, authority, and reassurance.

The piece suggests that many people turn to "alternative medicine" and unproven therapies because they are seeking less costly help or want to avoid "un-natural" pharmacological agents. These therapies, such as homeopathy and acupuncture, are often effective for symptoms like pain and nausea, which are known to be relieved by controlled placebo studies. However, providers of these alternative therapies often fail to provide the data necessary for scientific evaluation, leaving little objective evidence for their efficacy beyond the placebo effect.

The article contrasts the use of placebos with scientifically based medical treatments, emphasizing that the latter should not be rejected. It acknowledges that physicians might use placebo-type treatments to comfort patients when specific tools are unavailable, but stresses that this should be done without jeopardizing the patient's health. The goal for all healthcare workers, regardless of their specialization, should be patient well-being.

Book Recommendation: Battling the Inner Dummy

The issue includes a book recommendation for "Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People" by David L. Weiner and Gilbert Hefter, M.D. The book revisits Freud's concept of the id, retitling it the "inner dummy." The "inner dummy" is described as reacting without logic or reasoning, going straight to instinct. The reviewer notes that this concept might explain why it is difficult to get people to rationally examine issues, but also points out flaws in the book's application of its criteria.

Further Reading and Upcoming Meeting

Two books are recommended for further reading on the placebo effect: "The Powerful Placebo" by A. K. Shapiro and E. Shapiro, and "The Placebo Effect," edited by A. Harrington.

The magazine also announces an upcoming meeting titled "Our Next Meeting: How Nature Works: Parables Hidden in the Sands of Time." This presentation, by Dr. Richard Walker and Dr. Rense Lange, will explore a new model of how nature works based on an inherent process of "Self-Organizing Criticality." The concept is described as easy to grasp both conceptually and mathematically. Walker and Lange will illustrate its application across various fields, including economic depressions, galaxy formation, and earthquakes, highlighting its counterintuitive implications for science, philosophy, epistemology, and statistics. The meeting will also feature a computer simulation of the sandpile model and its application to daily life. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 1, at 7:00 PM at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, and is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and the evaluation of evidence, particularly concerning medical treatments and natural phenomena. The REALL News, through its content and the announcement of its meetings, promotes a rational and evidence-based approach to understanding the world, encouraging skepticism towards unproven claims while advocating for the pursuit of scientific knowledge. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientifically validated methods and caution against the uncritical acceptance of alternative or unproven therapies, while acknowledging the psychological benefits that can be derived from the placebo effect.