The abduction phenomenon is an umbrella term used to describe hypotheses, claims, or assertions that non-human creatures (usually aliens) kidnap individuals—sometimes called "abductees"—and take them to their ship, usually for medical testing, experiments, or for sexual reproduction procedures. A hypothesis (from Greek) consists either of a suggested explanation for a phenomenon (an event that is observable or of a reasoned proposal suggesting a possible In Criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or Asportation of a person against the person's will usually to hold the person in False imprisonment Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the The Evolution of sexual reproduction is a major puzzle The first Fossilized evidence of sexually reproducing Organisms is from Eukaryotes of the Stenian Some purported abductees claim that the aliens tried to warn them of the declining state of their planet. While many of these purported encounters are described as terrifying or humiliating, some have purportedly been transformative, resulting in a profound mystical experience and a feeling of oneness with God or the universe while others are described as pleasant. . Reports of the abduction phenomenon have been made from around the world, but have perhaps seen most mainstream attention in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Skeptics tend to doubt that the phenomenon occurs literally as reported, and a wide variety of alternate explanations have been proposed (see below). Rather, such skeptics often argue that the phenomenon might be characterized as a type of modern-day folk myth (like the historic belief in vampires), or regard them as very vivid dreams in the state of sleep paralysis. History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological Vampires are mythological or folkloric revenants who subsist by feeding on the blood of the living Sleep paralysis is a common condition characterized by transient partial or total paralysis of skeletal muscles and Areflexia that occurs upon awakening from sleep or less The alien abduction phenomenon has been the subject of conspiracy theory and as such has become a staple of popular science fiction works such as The X-Files. A conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually Political, Social or Historical events or the concealment The X-Files is a Peabody, Golden Globe and Emmy Award -winning American Science fiction television series created by Chris Carter
| CUFOS Definition of an Abductee[1] |
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Few mainstream scientists believe the phenomenon literally occurs as reported, and most people contend the field is rife with kooks and pseudoscience. "Crank" is a Pejorative term for a person who either holds some belief which the vast majority of his contemporaries would consider false is eccentric (especially Pseudoscience is defined as a body of knowledge methodology belief or practice that is claimed to be Scientific or made to appear scientific but does not adhere to the However, there is little doubt that many apparently stable persons who report alien abductions are sincere: as reported in the Harvard University Gazette in 1992, Dr. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) John Edward Mack investigated over 60 claimed abductees, and "spent countless therapeutic hours with these individuals only to find that what struck him was the 'ordinariness' of the population, including a restaurant owner, several secretaries, a prison guard, college students, a university administrator, and several homemakers . John Edward Mack MD (4 October 1929 – 27 September 2004 was an American Psychiatrist, and Professor at the Harvard University School of Medicine . . 'The majority of abductees do not appear to be deluded, confabulating, lying, self-dramatizing, or suffering from a clear mental illness,' he maintained. A delusion is commonly defined as a fixed False Belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false fanciful or derived from Deception Confabulation, also known as false memory is the confusion of Imagination with Memory, and/or the confusion of true memories with false memories Mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as He has encountered only one person who showed psychotic features. Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic " [2] Other experts who have argued that abductees' mental health is no better or worse than average, including psychologists John Wilson and Rima Laibow, and psychotherapist David Gotlib[3].
Some abduction reports are quite detailed. An entire subculture has developed around the subject, with support groups and a detailed mythos explaining the reasons for abductions: The various aliens (Greys, Reptilians, "Nordics" and so on) are said to have specific roles, origins, and motivations. For the term in biology see Subculture (biology. For the song by New Order see Sub-culture (song. In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial for a particular shared usually burdensome characteristic Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena Reptilian humanoids are a common motif in Mythology, Folklore, Science fiction, Ufology, and contemporary Conspiracy theories Nordic aliens, also called Aryan aliens, is a name given to what are said to be a group of Humanoid extraterrestrials. Abduction claimants do not always attempt to explain the phenomenon, but some take independent research interest in it themselves, and explain the lack of greater awareness of alien abduction as the result of either extraterrestrial or governmental interest in cover-up. Extraterrestrial life is Life originating outside of the Earth. A cover-up is an attempt whether successful or not to conceal evidence of wrong-doing error Incompetence, or other embarrassing information
Others are intrigued by the entire phenomenon, but hesitate in making any definitive conclusions. Emergency room physician Dr. John G. Miller asks, "How can a person have any firmly held belief about this when it's so mysterious? The opinions of the true believers are hard to swallow; and the opinions of the die-hard skeptics are not based on reality either. There is some middle ground . . . It's clear that this is some sort of powerful subjective experience. But I do not know what the objective reality is. It's as if the evidence leads us in both directions. " (Bryan, 162) Similarly, the late Harvard psychiatrist John Mack concluded, "The furthest you can go at this point is to say there's an authentic mystery here. John Edward Mack MD (4 October 1929 – 27 September 2004 was an American Psychiatrist, and Professor at the Harvard University School of Medicine And that is, I think, as far as anyone ought to go. " (emphasis as in original) (Bryan, 269)
Putting aside the question of whether abduction reports are literally and objectively "real", literature professor Terry Matheson argues that their popularity and their intriguing appeal are easily understood. Tales of abduction "are intrinsically absorbing; it is hard to imagine a more vivid description of human powerlessness. " After experiencing the frisson of delightful terror one may feel from reading ghost stories or watching horror movies, Matheson notes that people "can return to the safe world of their homes, secure in the knowledge that the phenomenon in question cannot follow. A ghost story may be any piece of Fiction, or Drama, that includes a Ghost, or simply takes as a Premise the possibility of ghosts or the belief Horror films are Movies that strive to elicit Fear, Horror and terror responses from viewers But as the abduction myth has stated almost from the outset, there is no avoiding alien abductors. " (Matheson, 297)
Even hearing a tape recording of (or watching a video recording of) a hypnotic regression session can be a chilling experience, leaving little doubt to some observers that the individual is either an accomplished actor, or genuinely believes they are reliving a horrifying experience. Once hypnotized and supposedly recalling an abduction event, some people relate the event calmly, while others may beg pathetically for the event to stop, cry in apparent horror, shout angrily or tremble with fear.
Matheson writes that when compared to the earlier contactee reports, abduction accounts are distinguished by their "relative sophistication and subtlety, which enabled them to enjoy an immediately more favorable reception from the public. Contactees are persons who claim to be in regular contact with extraterrestrials. "
Although different cases vary in detail (sometimes significantly), some UFO researchers, such as folklorist Thomas E. Bullard[4] argue that there is a broad, fairly consistent sequence and description of events which make up the typical "close encounter of the fourth kind" (a popular but unofficial designation building on Dr. Thomas Eddie Bullard (born 1949 is an American Folklorist best known for his research into UFOs and the Abduction phenomenon. A close encounter in Ufology is an event where a person witnesses an Unidentified flying object. J. Allen Hynek's classifying terminology). Josef Allen Hynek ( May 1, 1910 - April 27, 1986) was a United States Astronomer, Professor, and ufologist Though the features outlined below are often reported, there is some disagreement as to exactly how often they actually occur. Some researchers (especially Budd Hopkins and David Michael Jacobs) have been accused of excluding, minimising or suppressing testimony or data which do not fit a certain paradigm for the phenomenon. Budd Hopkins (born on June 15, 1931 in Wheeling West Virginia) is a central figure in Abduction phenomenon and related UFO research The word paradigm ( Greek:παράδειγμα (paradigmacomposite from para- and the verb δείχνυμι "to show" as a whole -roughly- meaning "example"
Bullard argues most abduction accounts feature the following events. They generally follow the sequence noted below, though not all abductions feature all the events:
When describing the "abduction scenario"[5], David M. Jacobs says:
The entire abduction event is precisely orchestrated. All the procedures are predtermined. There is no standing around and deciding what to do next. The beings are task-oriented and there is no indication whatsoever that we have been able to find of any aspect of their lives outside of performing the abduction procedures. [5]
Alleged alien abductions are often closely connected to UFO reports, and are sometimes supposedly conducted by so-called Greys: Short, grey-skinned humanoids with large, pear-shaped heads and enormous dark eyes, although many different types of abducting entities have been reported, and the reported abductors seem to vary by the culture and place of origin of the experience. Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena
Most abductees report being taken from their bedroom prior to falling asleep. Typically, at the onset of the abduction experience, the abductee will report paralysis, sighting a bright light, and the appearance of humanoid figures.
In many abduction reports, the individual(s) concerned are traveling by automobile at the time of the incident, usually at night or in the early morning hours, and usually in a rural or sparsely populated area. A UFO will be seen ahead, (sometimes on the road) and the driver will either deliberately stop to investigate, or the car will stop due to apparent mechanical failure. Other forms of mechanical failure and interference are also common, such as a car radio producing static or behaving abnormally. Such descriptions match that of an EM pulse, which can be both naturally and artificially induced. The term electromagnetic pulse ( EMP) has the following meanings Electromagnetic radiation from an Explosion (especially a Nuclear In the occasions when they have been present, animals such as dogs usually also display a heightened fear response.
Some reports indicate the alleged aliens, often the Greys using a pencil sized, black device with a light on the end of it, to make the abductee compliant (From Nick Pope's book The Uninvited (book))
Upon getting out of the vehicle, the driver and passenger(s) often will experience a blank period and amnesia (see Missing Time), after which they will find themselves again standing in front of, or driving their car. Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena Nick Pope is a Ufologist and Author who previously worked for the British Ministry of Defence from 1985. While they frequently will not consciously remember the experience, either subsequent nightmares or hypnosis will reveal events interpreted as having occurred during the period lacking memory. A nightmare is a Dream which causes a strong unpleasant emotional response from the sleeper typically fear or horror being in situations of extreme danger or the sensations Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness
The examination phase of the so-called "abduction narrative" is characterized by the performance of medical procedures and examinations by apparently alien beings against or irrespective to the will of the experiencer. Alien Discussions Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference. Such procedures often focus on sex and reproductive biology. An organism's sex is defined by the gametes it produces males produce male gametes (spermatozoa or Sperm) while females produce female gametes (ova or Egg cells; individual Reproduction is the Biological process by which new individual Organisms are produced Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles However, the literature holds reports of a wide variety of procedures allegedly performed by the beings. The entity that appears to be in charge of the operation is often taller than the others involved[6]
Physician and abduction researcher Dr. John G. Miller explains that among abduction reports what stands out is the contrast between procedures performed by the alleged entities and those performed by doctors practicing typical earthly medecine. Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=M000741 EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 [6] He says "we're not hearing about 'our kind of medicine'"[6] Millers believes these differences add credibility to claims of alien abductions because if they were hoaxes or confabulations the reports should more closely resemble the earthly medicine familiar to the claimants. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the [6]
Miller notes different areas of emphasis between human medicine and what is allegedly being practiced by the abductors. [6] The abductors' areas of interest appear to be the cranium (see below), nervous system, skin, reproductive system, and to a lesser degree, the joints. Alien Discussions Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference. The nervous system is a Network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant The reproductive system is a system of organs within an Organism which work together for the purpose of Reproduction. A joint is the location at which two or more Bones make contact [6] Systems given less attention than a human doctor would, or omitted entirely include cardiovascular system, the respiratory system below the pharynx and the lymphatic system. This is an article about the rock music band "Circulatory System" In living organisms a respiratory system functions to allow Gas exchange. The pharynx (plural pharynges) is the part of the Neck and Throat situated immediately Posterior to (behind the Mouth and Nasal The lymphatic system in Vertebrates is a network of conduits that carry a clear fluid called Lymph. [6] The abductors also appear to ignore the upper region of the abdomen in favor of the lower one. In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. [6]
There are also differences in procedure as well as emphasis between human medicine and that claimed to be practiced by the entities. Interestingly, the abductors don't appear to wear gloves during the "examination. " [6] Other constants of terrestrial medicine like pills and tablets are missing from abduction narratives although sometimes abductees are asked to drink liquids. [6] Injections also seem to be rare and IVs are almost completely absent. [6] Dr. Miller says he's never heard an abductee claim to have a tongue depressor used on them. [6]
Yvonne Smith, a certified hypnotherapist and abduction researcher, notes that "startling similarities" between abductees reporting procedures performed on the head arise when comparing reports of hypnotically retrieved abduction memories. [7] She states that the most commonly reported sensations and procedures performed to the head are feelings of pressure in or on the head and the insertion of needles into the scalp. [7] During cranial procedures the abductee's head is often restrained by a strap or metal bar drawn across the forehead. [7] The abductors sometimes will touch the forehead of the experiencer, which strangely, seems to ease their anxiety and whatever physical pain they may be experiencing. [6]
Reports of the entities drilling into the skull have also been given by several of Smith's clients. [7] In one instance the claimed site of the drilling corresponded with an actual red mark on the back of experiencer's head. [7] An attempt to document this mark photographically was made, but turned out unsuccessful. [7] The same client reported smelling something burning upon the termination of the procedure. [7] Smith has wondered if this could represent the being cauterizing the wound left by the drilling procedure by the abducting entities. Cauterize redirects here For the band see Cauterize (band Cauterization is a medical term describing the burning of the body to remove [7]
Other common cranial procedures involve the ears. [7] Reports of pressure or intense heat being experienced with in one or both ears are the most common given during the hypnotic retrieval of memories. [7] Experiencers have compared these sensations to the insertions of long needles and to having a high powered laser aimed into the ear. [7]
The insertion of long needle-like objects into the nasal passages is also common in reported abductions, and always allegedly performed without the aid of a speculum. [6] This is quite unlike typical earthly medecine where a speculum would be used to allow doctors to see what they're doing. [6] John G. Miller asserts "We [terrestrial medical practitioners] certainly do not 'blindly' insert long objects into our patients' noses. "[6] He speculates that this probing may represent a biopsy of the olfactory mucous membrane. [6] However, sometimes it is reported that these long probes are used to insert spherical metallic "implants" into the nasal cavity. [6] Abductees reporting these implants often claim to experience nosebleeds after the alleged abduction. [6]
One of Smith's clients reported the removal of his skull cap and some sort of procedure being performed to his exposed brain with a needle-like instrument. [7] The procedure reminded him of welding. Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials usually Metals or Thermoplastics by causing coalescence. [7] One of his abductors tried to reassure him verbally while the apparent neurological procedure was being performed. [7]
Although many female abductees report a "gynecological" aspect to the abduction experience, staples of terrestrial gynecology such as the bimanual pelvic exam are missing from the alleged abduction experiences. Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) refers to the surgical specialty dealing with health of the female reproductive system ( Uterus [6] Sometimes reports are made where the abductees are made to have sex with apparent human-alien hybrids or other abductees. [5] David M. Jacobs says that sex with full-blooded aliens "is not a feature of the abduction scenario. "[5]
Although the chest is not an area of emphasis to the alleged abductors, sometimes it is reported sometimes a device of some sort is placed on the chest. [6] Physician and abduction researcher Dr. John G. Miller says that he can't distinguish whether this device is an EKG, chest X-ray or echocardiogram. X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of Electromagnetic radiation. An echocardiogram is a Sonography of the Heart. Also known as a cardiac ultrasound it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of [6] Experiencers also sometimes report the being targeted by "diffused colored lights" during the examination. [6] John G. Miller notes that phototherapy is rare in human medicine. Light therapy or phototherapy consists of exposure to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light using Lasers, LEDs Fluorescent lamps, [6]
When the abductors appear to use devices analogous to those used in human medicine, they are often quite different, for example, alleged alien syringes are often reported as being "three pronged. "[6]
After the so-called medical exam, the alleged abductees often report other procedures being performed with the entities. [5] Common among these post-examination procedures are what abduction researchers refer to as imaging, envisioning, staging, and testing. [5]
Abductees of all ages and genders sometimes report being subjected to a "child presentation. "[5] As its name implies, the child presentation involves the abduction claimant being shown a "child. "[5] Often the children appear to be neither human, nor the same species as the abductors. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. [5] Instead, the child will almost always share characteristics of both species. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. [5] These children are labeled by experiencers as hybrids between humans and Greys. Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena It has been speculated that these children are the products of the reproductive procedures performed during the medical phase of the abduction. [5]
The hybrid children themselves vary in age, and are often encountered over the course of several abductions and age over these abductions as well. [5] In reported abductions, after reaching adolescence the hybrids begin assisting the strange entities in administering the abduction procedure. Furthermore, when they reach adulthood, the hybrids become completely involved in the operation and will not be the subject of "presentation" to the abductee. Some abductees have reported being made to have sex with hybrids. [5]
The hybrid children are sometimes described as being kept in nurseries. [5] There are usual 10-50 hybrids present, but some claimants have reported greater numbers. [5] Interestingly, some alleged abductees have reported "incubatoria," where the walls are lined with fluid filled containers where developing hybrid fetuses are kept. [5]
When the child is presented to the abductee, the abductors appear to have specific expectations of what to do with the child. [5] Sometimes the abductee will be required to show affection towards the children by hugging them, or if presented with younger hybrids, to cradle them close to the body. [5] Sometimes the hybrid will engage in a "mindscan" of the abductee. [5] Female abductees have reported being ordered to breastfeed hybrid infants. [5] The alleged experiencers' reaction to this command varies, sometimes they comply, but some women are horrified by the thought. [5]
During the "conference" phase, the "Aliens" speak with abductees. Generally, the aliens question the abductees about life on earth, or on their reproductive practices. In some cases, the aliens make inquiries about advanced scientific concepts, such as theoretical physics or neutron bomb technologies, apparently under the assumption that all humans are familiar with these concepts.
During the "Tour" phase of an alien abduction, the aliens will give the abductee a tour of their space vessel. While not all abductees are given a tour of the ship, in some cases, the aliens seem to want the abductee to see the different parts of the ship, particularly the main engine room (where the hyperdrive or other propulsion system is located). It is not known whether the aliens are doing this to gauge the reactions of the human abductee, or whether they are doing this as a courtesy of hospitality.
Dr. Don C. Donderi writes that "In many of these abduction accounts, there is independent confirmation of missing time--emotionally stable people arriving hours late after long or short automobile journeys. There is independent confirmation of abduction events reported under hypnosis, sometimes by non hypnotized observers and sometimes by other hypnotized witnesses" (Donderi, 66)
After the abduction, the probing/medical examinations, and the conference stages, the abductee is relocated out of the alien ship and returned to ground level. Often, the abductee is returned to a place other than their home, such as a remote location, such as an abandoned, empty drive-in theatre, or a disused building site. It is not known whether the use of these remote "drop-off" locations is done on purpose or not. Nevertheless, by returning abductees to these remote locations, it tends to undermine their credibility when rescuers find them, because the rescuer finds the abductee curled up sleeping on the dirt in the disused facility, wrapped in old newspapers. This tends to make rescuers think that the abductee was on a "drunken bender", and passed out in an empty building lot or parking lot. This may be part of the strategy of the aliens, to undermine the credibility of the abductees.
While some abductees find that the experience is terrifying, particularly if the aliens are of a more fearsome reptoid species, or if the abductee was subjected to extensive probing and medical testing, other abductees experience "theophany"— a sense of oneness with the universe or with God. It is not known whether this is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within the abductee due to their own beliefs, or if it is externally "transferred" into the mind of the abductee using an alien mind-transference or "mind-melding" technology.
Physician and abduction researcher John G. Miller sees significance in the reason a person would come to see themselves as being a victim of the abduction phenomenon. [8] He terms the insight or development leading to this shift in identity from non-abductee to abductee the "realization event. "[8] The realization event is often a single, memorable experience, but Miller reports that not all abductees experience it as a distinct episode. [8] Either way, the realization event can be thought of as the "clinical horizon" of the abduction experience. [8] Dr. Miller has compiled an incomplete list of common triggers for the realization event in a paper presented at the 1992 alien abduction conference held at MIT:
Sometimes the advent of the realization that one is an abductee can cause a "flood" of previously hidden memories of one's perceived encounters with "the entities. "[8] Although the realization event is sometimes triggered by an attempt to hypnotically retrieve memories, it is frequently remembered consciously without any such assistance. [8] Consequently, Miller sees it as a good "starting point" for a researcher investigating an individual subject. [8]
Although the alien abduction phenomenon, assuming it corresponds with objective reality, seems to be an enigma, sometimes the alleged abductors give information regarding the motivations and goals underlying the bizarre procedures of the abduction event. Dr. John G. Miller says that in the cases he's studied, abductees report that when they ask their captors why the invasive and humiliating medical procedures are being performed on them, the entity will often answer with a statement expressing sentiments like "We have the right to do this. "[6]
Author and ufologist Jenny Randles conducted a study focused on the motivations given by the abductors for the abduction phenomenon to alleged experiencers. [9] Her study sampled about 50 abduction claims and found that in about 60% of the alleged cases, the abductors had offered the experiencer insight into their motivations for performing the abduction. [9] She found that similar motivations were reported by abduction claimants irrespective to whether or not memories of the event were assisted by hypnosis. [9]
Randles says that the reported motivation formed a loose narrative centered on long term surveillance and interaction. [9] The entities target certain individuals for some unique quality and abduct them repeatedly. During the abductions information is supposedly being subconsciously implanted to be "activated" by the entities at some later time. [9] This time is sometimes claimed to correspond to some major change on earth that the entities desire to assist us in dealing with. [9] She notes that different types of reported entity are said to have differing motivations, with the "Nordic" type being more benevolent than the "Grays. "[9]
In a study investigating the motivations of the alleged abductors, Jenny Randles found that in each of the four cases out of fifty total where the experiencer was over forty years of age or more, they were rejected by the aliens for "what they (the experiencers) usually inferred to be a medical reason. Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena Reptilian humanoids are a common motif in Mythology, Folklore, Science fiction, Ufology, and contemporary Conspiracy theories Insectoid denotes any creature or object that shares a similar body or traits with common earth insects. The term " humanoid " refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a Human. A robot is a mechanical or Virtual Artificial agent In practice it is usually an electro-mechanical system which by its appearance or movements A cyborg is a Cybernetic Organism ( ie, an organism that has both artificial and natural systems "[9] "[T]he abduction is essentially a young person's experience. "[9]
As noted below, the Antonio Villas Boas case (1957) and the Hill Abduction (1961) were the first cases of UFO abduction to earn widespread attention. Antonio Villas Boas (1934-1992 was a Brazilian Farmer claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials in 1957 Betty and Barney Hill were an American married couple who rose to fame after they claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials on September 19-20 1961
Though these two cases are sometimes viewed as the earliest abductions, skeptic Peter Rogerson[10] notes this assertion is incorrect: the Hill and Boas abductions, he contends, were only the first "canonical" abduction cases, establishing a template that later abductees and researchers would refine, but rarely deviate from. Additionally, Rogerson notes purported abductions were cited contemporaneously at least as early as 1954, and that "the growth of the abduction stories is a far more tangled affair than the 'entirely unpredisposed' official history would have us believe. " (The phrase "entirely unpredisposed" appeared in folklorist Thomas E. Bullard's study of alien abduction; he argued that alien abductions as reported in the 1970s and 1980s had little precedent in folklore or fiction. Thomas Eddie Bullard (born 1949 is an American Folklorist best known for his research into UFOs and the Abduction phenomenon. ) See "external links" for all four parts of Rogerson's article.
While "alien abduction" did not achieve widespread attention until the 1960s, there were many similar stories circulating decades earlier. These early abduction-like accounts have been dubbed "paleo-abductions" by UFO researcher Jerome Clark. Jerome Clark (born 1946 is an American researcher and Writer, specializing in Unidentified flying objects and other anomalous phenomena he is also a [11] This same two-part article ([12] and [13]) makes note of many paleo-abductions, some of which were reported well before the 1957 Antonio Villas Boas case earned much attention, or even before the UFO report claimed in 1947 by pilot Kenneth Arnold that first generated widespread interest in UFOs:
The UFO contactees of the 1950s claimed to have contacted aliens, and the substance of contactee narratives are often regarded as quite different from alien abduction accounts. Contactees are persons who claim to be in regular contact with extraterrestrials.
However, Rogerson contends that it is often difficult to determine the division between contactees and abductees, with classification sometimes seeming arbitrary.
Allegedly genuine stories of kidnap by extraterrestrials goes back at least to the mid-1950s, with the Antonio Villas Boas case (which didn't receive much attention until several years later). Antonio Villas Boas (1934-1992 was a Brazilian Farmer claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials in 1957
Widespread publicity was generated by the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case of 1961 (again not widely known until several years afterwards), culminating in a made for television film broadcast in 1975 (starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons) dramatizing the events. Betty and Barney Hill were an American married couple who rose to fame after they claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials on September 19-20 1961 James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American Actor of Film and stage well known for his deep basso Estelle Margaret Parsons (born November 20, 1927) is an Academy Award -winning American Theatre, Film and Television The Hill incident was probably the prototypical abduction case, and was perhaps the first in which:
If we include such clearly fictional sources as science fiction movies and pulps, the phenomena might be traced back to the 1930s. Pulp magazines (or pulp fiction; often referred to as "the pulps" were inexpensive Fiction magazines
Neither the contactees nor these early abduction accounts, however, saw much attention from ufology, then still largely reluctant to consider close encounters of the third kind, where occupants of UFOs are allegedly interacted with. Ufology is a Neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study Unidentified flying object reports and associated evidence A close encounter in Ufology is an event where a person witnesses an Unidentified flying object.
Undoubtedly, the Barney and Betty Hill case is one of, if not the most famous case of purported abduction ever. Barney and Betty were driving home on a road free from other cars late one night. They both saw an odd light coming at them from above. They then blacked out and found themselves back on the road, driving. The only thing odd was it was two hours later than when they had seen the light. They both went to psychologists and hypnotists. They learned of the Grey on board the ship that had abducted them. See Barney and Betty Hill for more depth. Betty and Barney Hill were an American married couple who rose to fame after they claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials on September 19-20 1961
Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle (a University of Wyoming psychologist) became interested in the abduction phenomenon in the 1960s. Dr Ronald Leo Sprinkle (born August 31, 1930) is an American Psychologist. The University of Wyoming is a Land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation For some years, he was probably the only academic figure devoting any time to studying or researching abduction accounts. Sprinkle became convinced of the phenomenon's actuality, and was perhaps the first to suggest a link between abductions and cattle mutilation. Cattle mutilation (also known as bovine excision) is the apparent killing and then Mutilation of Cattle under unusual or anomalous circumstances Eventually Sprinkle came to believe that he had been abducted by aliens in his youth; he was forced from his job in 1989. (Bryan, 145fn)
Budd Hopkins—a painter and sculptor by profession—had been interested in UFOs for some years. Budd Hopkins (born on June 15, 1931 in Wheeling West Virginia) is a central figure in Abduction phenomenon and related UFO research In the 1970s he became interested in abduction reports, and began using hypnosis in order to extract more details of dimly remembered events. Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness Hopkins soon became a figurehead of the growing abductee subculture. (Schnabel 1994)
The 1980s brought a major degree of mainstream attention to the subject. Works by Budd Hopkins, Whitley Strieber, David M. Budd Hopkins (born on June 15, 1931 in Wheeling West Virginia) is a central figure in Abduction phenomenon and related UFO research Louis Whitley Strieber ( (born June 13, 1945) is an American writer best known for his Horror novels The Wolfen and The Hunger Jacobs and John Mack presented alien abduction as a genuine phenomenon. (Schnabel 1994)
Also of note in the 1980s was the publication of folklorist Dr. Thomas E. Bullard's comparative analysis of nearly 300 alleged abductees. Thomas Eddie Bullard (born 1949 is an American Folklorist best known for his research into UFOs and the Abduction phenomenon. The mid and late 1980s saw the involvement of two esteemed academic figures: Harvard psychiatrist John Mack and historian David M. Jacobs.
With Hopkins, Jacobs and Mack, several shifts occurred in the nature of the abduction narratives. There had been earlier abduction reports (the Hills being the best known), but they were believed to be few and far between, and saw rather little attention from ufology (and even less attention from mainstream professionals or academics). Ufology is a Neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study Unidentified flying object reports and associated evidence Jacobs and Hopkins argued that alien abduction was far more common than earlier suspected; they estimate that tens of thousands (or more) North Americans had been taken by unexplained beings. (Schnabel 1994)
Furthermore, Jacobs and Hopkins argued that there was an elaborate scheme underway, that the aliens were attempting a program to create human–alien hybrids, though the motives for this scheme were unknown. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. There were anecdotal reports of phantom pregnancy related to UFO encounters at least as early as the 1960s, but Budd Hopkins and especially David M. Budd Hopkins (born on June 15, 1931 in Wheeling West Virginia) is a central figure in Abduction phenomenon and related UFO research Jacobs were instrumental in popularizing the idea of widespread, systematic interbreeding efforts on the part of the alien intruders. Despite the relative paucity of corroborative evidence, Jacobs presents this scenario as not only plausible, but self-evident. Hopkins and Jacobs have also been criticized for selective citation of abductee interviews, favoring those which support their hypothesis of extraterrestrial intervention.
The involvement of Jacobs and Mack marked something of a sea change in the abduction studies. Their efforts were controversial (both men saw some degree of damage to their professional reputations), but to other observers, Jacobs and Mack brought a degree of respectability to the subject. Joe Montaldo
Matheson writes that "if Jacobs's credentials were impressive," then those of Harvard psychiatrist John Edward Mack might seem "impeccable" in comparison. John Edward Mack MD (4 October 1929 – 27 September 2004 was an American Psychiatrist, and Professor at the Harvard University School of Medicine (Matheson, 251) Mack was a well known, highly esteemed psychiatrist, author of over 150 scientific articles and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of T.E. Lawrence. The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism, Mack became interested in the phenomenon in the late 1980s, interviewing dozens of people, and eventually writing two books on the subject.
Mack was somewhat more guarded in his investigations and interpretations of the abduction phenomenon than the earlier researchers. Matheson writes that "On balance, Mack does present as fair-minded an account as has been encountered to date, at least as these abduction narratives go. " (Matheson, 251) Furthermore, Mack notes when alternative interpretations are viable; throughout Abduction, his first book on the subject, he allows and even considers likely that alien abductions are a new type of visionary experience.
Matheson notes that unlike earlier abduction researchers, Mack is generally quite cautious in his interpretations of physical evidence and corroborative testimony. He places little value in the scars and scratches often attributed to alien "medical" exams, and argues that trying to prove the actuality of alleged "implants" placed in abductees is largely a futile effort.
Mack argued that the abduction phenomenon might be the beginning of a major paradigm shift in human consciousness, or "a kind of fourth blow to our collective egoism, following those of Copernicus, Darwin and Freud. Paradigm shift, sometimes known as extraordinary science or revolutionary science, is the term first used by Thomas Kuhn in his influential Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the Charles Robert Darwin (February 12 1809 &ndash April 19 1882 was an English naturalist, who realised and demonstrated that all Species of life Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded " (Bryan, 270) Mack also noted that, after an initial period of terror and confusion (a phase he dubbed "ontological shock"), many abductees ultimately regard their experiences more positively, saying that their experiences broadened their consciousness. In Philosophy, ontology (from the Greek, genitive: of being (part Post traumatic stress disorder It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to
In June 1992, Mack co-organized a five-day conference at MIT to discuss and debate the abduction phenomenon. [19] The conference attracted a wide range of professionals, representing a variety of perspectives. (In response to this conference, Mack and Jacobs were awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in 1993). The Ig Nobel Prizes are a Parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October — around the time the recipients of the genuine Nobel Prizes are
Writer C. D. Bryan attended the conference, initially intending to gather information for a short humorous article for The New Yorker. Courtlandt Dixon Barnes Bryan (born April 22, 1936) better known as C The New Yorker is an American Magazine that publishes reportage commentary criticism essays fiction satire cartoons and poetry While attending the conference, however, Bryan's view of the subject changed, and he wrote a serious, open-minded book on the phenomenon, additionally interviewing many abductees, skeptics, and proponents.
In his books on the subject, Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Harvard Medical School ( HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University and currently the #1 medical school in America as ranked by U John Edward Mack explained that common features of alien abduction experiences in North America include the feeling of paralysis; the perception of having been transported immaterially, frequently through a beam of light; the sense of having been surgically probed or implanted with devices; the freezing or slowing of time; and sexual or reproductive contact or manipulation by the aliens. John Edward Mack MD (4 October 1929 – 27 September 2004 was an American Psychiatrist, and Professor at the Harvard University School of Medicine Teleportation is the movement of objects from one place to another more or less instantaneously either by Paranormal means or through technological artifice
There are however cultural differences in perception of these reported incidents. The frightening "terror abduction" experience is reported mainly in the USA, while in the rest of the world, the ET encounters are said to be largely benevolent -- this apparent incongruity perhaps raising a question as to the phenomenon's origins.
As noted above, the so-called Greys are most popularly associated with abduction reports. Greys is a term used to describe alleged Intelligent, Humanoid extraterrestrials that appear in claims of encounters with UFO -related phenomena Again, however, this seems to be a North American paradigm best-known since the 1980s. On the contrary, some researchers (such as Kevin D. Randle in his 1997 book, Faces Of The Visitors: An Illustrated Reference To Alien Contact) have noted a vast variety of alleged creatures have been reported in abduction accounts worldwide, with some of the alleged creatures not even described as humanoid. Dr Kevin D Randle (1949- is a Major in the Iowa National Guard, as well as a prominent Ufologist. The term " humanoid " refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a Human.
Although in North America, "aliens" of extraterrestrial origin are the most commonly blamed in these incidents, in Europe and other parts of the world, the beings involved are as often perceived to be demonic or spiritual in origin. Demonic is a Death metal / Thrash metal album by Testament, released in 1997 The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Common elements in the descriptions of abductions and visitations vary by region and local culture, with only a very few elements being the same worldwide, such as an otherworldly sensation, reports of mind control, repressed memories being rediscovered, and sexual experiences. Mind control is a broad range of psychological tactics able to subvert an individual's control of his own thinking, behavior emotions or decisions Repressed memory is a theoretical concept used to describe a significant Memory, usually of a traumatic nature that has become unavailable for recall also called Generally speaking human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings These elements, and many aspects of what witnesses describe, are very common in old stories of encounters with faeries, demons, and other magical creatures. A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively wee folk, good folk, people of peace, fair Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a Conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events objects people and
In 1991, Hopkins, Jacobs and sociologist Dr. Ron Westrum commissioned a Roper Poll in order to determine how many Americans might have experienced the abduction phenomenon. Of nearly 6,000 Americans, 119 answered in a way that Hopkins et al interpreted as supporting their ET interpretation of the abduction phenomenon. Based on this figure, Hopkins estimated that nearly four million Americans might have been abducted by extraterrestrials. The poll results are available at this external link: The Roper Poll: UFOs & Extraterrestrial Life, Americans' Beliefs and Personal Experiences
However, critics have argued that there were significant problems with the poll's methodology which should invalidate the results. Methodology (also called manner) is defined as "the analysis of the principles of methods rules and postulates employed by a discipline" Writing in Skeptical Inquirer, psychologist Susan Blackmore notes that based on her analysis, "I conclude that the claim of the Roper Poll, that 3. The Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American Magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI with the subtitle 7 million Americans have probably been abducted, is false. "[20]
In a long article, Dr. Michael Persinger argues that most of the features of the abduction phenomenon can be explained as the manifestation of measurable functions of the human brain. Dr Michael A Persinger (born June 26, 1945) is a Cognitive neuroscience researcher and university professor He has worked at Laurentian University Persinger writes that the "main theme" of his article "is to explore visitation experiences, now attributed by many people to UFO and implicitly "extraterrestrial' phenomena, from the perspective of modern neuroscience. Neuroscience is a field devoted to the scientific study of the nervous system . . From an operational perspective, the average visitation experience attributed to an alien entity is indiscriminable from average mystical or religious experience attributed to gods and to spirits. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Instead we have been trying to isolate those areas of the brain and those electromagnetic patterns within the brain that are involved with the general visitation experience. " (Persinger, 263)
He goes on to argue that "Nearly every basic element of mystical, religious, and visitor experience has been evoked with electrical stimulation" of test subjects' brains. (Persinger, 270). Individuals with some forms of epilepsy often experience vivid hallucination, and Persinger suggests that the same areas of the brain are activated in these individuals as in those who experience extraordinary visitations. Epilepsy is a common chronic Neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. A hallucination, in the broadest sense is a Perception in the absence of a stimulus.
"Most people who report these experiences [alien abduction] display average to above average intelligence, are not 'crazy' and are very aware of the social and personal consequences of their experiences upon their families, friends and vocational opportunities. " (Persinger, 278)
Persinger relates a specific case of a "thirty-five year old woman" who "reported . . . the presence of multiple, elongated humanoids, in shimmering gray-silver clothes, that would surround her bed for a few nights every month. " The woman hesitated to tell her regular physician of the encounters, for fear that she'd be seen as "crazy". (Persinger, 278) The woman was prescribed a low dose of "the antiepileptic compound carbamazepine" and after regular use of the medication, the visitations "disappeared". Carbamazepine ("CBZ" is an Anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug used primarily in the treatment of Epilepsy and Bipolar disorder Persinger is quick to note that "This does not indicate that all people who report visitor experiences associated with UFOs are undiagnosed epileptics or that the phenomena will cease when with this particular medication. Instead, it indicated that well-formed and meaningful experiences, attributed to alien sources and sufficient in magnitude to disrupt the person's sense of self and adaptability, can be associated with periods of electrical activity that can be affected by treatments not typically associated with these types of experiences. " (Persinger, 278)
He also cites polls indicating that up to one third of people have had some sort of similar experience: 39% of more than 1700 people polled over 20 years have answered "yes" to the question "At least once in my life very late at night, I have felt the presence of another Being. " (Persinger, 280). Given that visitor experiences are somewhat common, and that worldwide, they tend to follow the same patterns, Persinger suggests that while underlying neurological factors give the experience its basic form, how such events are interpreted is shaped by cultural factors: "Because human brains are more similar than they are different, the themes of these experiences have been and remain remarkably similar across space and time. The details are simply punctuation from the person's culture. " (Persinger, 296)
Persinger's hypothesis ties into another observation that alien abduction is in many regards similar to shamanic initiations.
Danny McClenon's hypothesis illuminates many similarities between alien abduction stories and the historical accounts of mythological encounters with incubi and succubi. An incubus (plural incubi) is a Demon in male form supposed to lie upon sleepers especially women in order to have Sexual intercourse with them according A succubus (plural succubi) is a Demon who takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce men especially monks in Dreams to have Sexual intercourse i. e. sleep paralysis, small un-earthly intruders at night, sexual activity/abuse, etc. . . . This is an indicator of our predisposition and our willingness to accept these modern day myths, stories, and beliefs.
There have been a variety of explanations offered for abduction phenomena, ranging from sharply skeptical appraisals to uncritical acceptance of all abductee claims. Others have elected not to try explaining things, instead noting similarities to other phenomena, or simply documenting the development of the alien abduction phenomenon.
- Many people have claimed to be abducted by alens but we have full proof from United States resident Grant Parker and is the only person to actually know the body structure of the aliens
If actual "flesh and blood" aliens are abducting humans, there should be some hard evidence that this is occurring. Proponents of the physical reality of the abduction experience have suggested ways that could conceivably confirm abduction reports.
One procedure reported occurring during the alleged exam phase of the experience is the insertion of a long needly into a woman's navel. Alien Discussions Proceedings of the Abduction Study Conference. [6] Some have speculated that this could be a form of laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery, also called Minimally invasive surgery (MIS, bandaid surgery, Keyhole surgery, or pinhole surgery [6] If this is true, after the abduction there should be free gas in the lady's abdomen, which could be seen on an x-ray. This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter [6] The presence of free gas would be extremely abnormal, and would help substantiate the claim of some sort of procedure being done to her. [6]
The International Community for Alien Research (I. A nightmare is a Dream which causes a strong unpleasant emotional response from the sleeper typically fear or horror being in situations of extreme danger or the sensations A succubus (plural succubi) is a Demon who takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce men especially monks in Dreams to have Sexual intercourse The Grigori are a group of Fallen angels told of in Biblical apocrypha who mated with mortal women giving rise to a race of hybrids known as the Nephilim Nephilim are beings who appear in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, and are also mentioned in other Biblical texts and in some non- Sleep paralysis is a common condition characterized by transient partial or total paralysis of skeletal muscles and Areflexia that occurs upon awakening from sleep or less Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic Demonology (from Greek grc δαίμων daimōn, "demon" and grc -λογία -logia) is the systematic study of Demonic possession is often the term used to describe the control over a human form by Satan himself or one of his assigned advocates Spirit possession is a concept of Paranormal, Supernatural and/or Superstitious belief in which spirits, gods, daemons This article deals only with a proposed syndrome For information on related topics see Controversial views and issues The nature and validity of The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine hidden secret referring to "knowledge of the hidden" Contactees are persons who claim to be in regular contact with extraterrestrials. Confabulation, also known as false memory is the confusion of Imagination with Memory, and/or the confusion of true memories with false memories Recovered memory therapy (RMT is a term coined by affiliates of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF in the early 1990s to refer what they described as a range Unexplained disappearance (or paranormal vanishing) is a term describing the disappearance of objects animals or people without apparent reason or cause According to The Journal of American Culture most people claiming to have experienced Alien abduction report “traumatic alien investigations of their bodies” (Barbeito 202 Coast to Coast AM is an American late-night Syndicated Radio Talk show which deals with a variety of topics but most frequently Jeff Rense is an American Conspiracy theorist and radio talk-show host of the Jeff Rense Program, broadcast on US Satellite radio via Genesis C. A. R)[4] * http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4694075066240662837