Psychological and Sociological Theories
(continued from previous post)
Psycho-social theorists have provided several reasons to explain UFO and alien abduction reports and beliefs. Overall, they contend there must be either a conscious or subconscious recall from various media forms or a heightened level of gullibility influenced and reinforced by the strong social context of the UFO phenomenon. Carl Gustav Jung, the psychotherapist and psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology, advocated the psycho-cultural hypothesis (PCH) and paranormal theory to explain the UFO phenomena. The PCH regards the UFO phenomenon as a cultural phenomenon in which the belief in UFOs developed out of our societies interest with space-flight reinforced by media hype of aliens and flying saucers. Although Jung believed that UFOs might be psychological manifestations, he did rule out the possibility of intelligently controlled physical objects. Another proponent of the PCH, neurologist Dr. Steven Novella, president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society, considers the UFO phenomenon an example of “modern mythology” which evolved out of “popular culture” facilitated by the media. Supportive evidence for this notion is largely based on the evolution of how aliens have evolved over time. Novella provides examples of how witness reports changed from “hairy dwarfs to giant insects” to the current “grey” alien which appeared after the famous Betty and Barney Hill abduction case in 1961.
Paranormal
The paranormal theory, while interesting to contemplate, resides at the fringe along the UFO theory continuum, especially since the “paranormal” cannot be measured and explained using the scientific method. Given the “high strangeness” of the UFO phenomenon, any proposed theory to explain unusual aerial events will almost certainly be met with a high degree of skepticism. Within this context, is it possible that the “high strangeness” associated with the phenomenon provides evidence of its nature and origin? This theory, regarded as “pseudoscience” by mainstream science, suggests that UFOs are paranormal manifestations which evolved from the reported “high strangeness” associated with the phenomenon. This is evidenced by witness reports of “shape-shifting” UFOs, their apparent ability to materialize and dematerialize, reports of aliens floating through structures, and telepathic communication with aliens associated with many UFO encounters. Some UFO researchers make analogous assumptions between the behavior of UFOs and their occupants and other “paranormal” areas of study which include apparitions, the Men-In-Black phenomenon, and demons.
This post has been sourced from an article at the website http://theufophenomenon.com/ by Robert Davis Ph.D. His new book ‘The UFO Phenomenon: Should I Believe?’ is available now for purchase on Amazon from this link http://amzon.com
Thats all for now.
Paul
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