FANTASY PRONENESS, AMNESIA, AND THE UFO ABDUCTION PHENOMENON

Susan .\laric POIITrS. .\LA.

Susan Marie Powers, M.A., is a doctoral studentattheSaybrook Absorption is interpreted as a disposition for hav­ Institute, San Francisco, CA 94109. ing episodes of total attention that fully engages one's representational (i.e., perceptual, inactive, Forreprintswrite SusanMarie Powers, M.A., SaybrookInstitute, imaginative, and ideational, resources. This kind LRC, 1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. of attentional functioning is believed to result in a heightened sense of the reality of the attention­ ABSTRACT al object, imperiousness to distracting events, and an altered sense ofself. (p. 268) Fantasy proneness has been viewed as an adaptiveresponse to stress; however, the specificrelationship between amnesia andfantasyprone­ More recent research on fantasy proneness by Lynn and ness has not been ferreted out as a research focus. This essay exam­ Rhue (1988) has emphasized the importance ofabsorption ines the ways in which amnesia appears to playa functional role as it correlates to fantasy proneness, r>.70, (Lynn & Rhue, infantasyproneness andpost-traumaticstress disorder. Furthermore, 1988). This correlation is significant because "measures of this essay postulates that persons who report that they have been absorption correlate more highly with hypnotizability than abducted lJy extraterrestrials andsexually abused duringthese abduc­ with personality traits measured by multidimensional per­ tions may befantasy-prone individuals who have used systematized sonalityinventories [forexample, the MMP] " (Lynn & Rhue, amnesia to create a mask memory for repeated instances ofviolent 1988, p. 36). Therefore, while the fantasy prone personali­ sexual abuse in early childhood. ty may be more likely to be highly hypnotizable, it could be that the accompanying trait ofabsorption, which most fan­ INTRODUCTION tasy prone individuals possess, is the key to hypnotic sus­ ceptibility. Supporting this hypothesis is the research by The term, "fantasy-prone personality"was coinedbyWilson Spiegel's (1974) research, which distinguishes a population and Barber (1983) to describe the following population: ofhighlyhypnotizable individuals, The GradeFive Syndrome derives its name from a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 representing There exists a small group ofindividuals (possibly no hypnotic talent and 5 indicating a high degree of hyp­ 4% ofthe population) who fantasize a large part of notic talent. These individuals demonstratespecific personality the time, who typically "see," "smell," "touch," and characteristics and Spiegel finds that absorption, the capac­ fully experience what they fantasize; and who can ity for concentration, is a predominaflt trait in this group. be labeled fantasy-prone personalities. (p. 340) A study by Tellegen and Atkinson (1974) yields data on the trait of absorption and its relationship to hypnotic sus­ One purpose of the 1983 Wilson and Barber study was to ceptibility. However, althoughfantasy pronenessandabsorp­ shedlighton the phenomenon ofhypnosis. The researchers tion have received serious consideration in terms of their hypothesized thatindividualswith a specific constellation of relationship to hypnotizability, and the correlation between personalitytraits mightbe more easily hypnotized than mem­ fantasy proneness and absorption has been addressed, the bers of the general population. Fantasy-prone individuals occurrence of amnesia in fantasy prone personalities has were determined to be people who had had a "life-time his­ not been ferreted out as a research focus. There is much in tory ofintense fantasy" (Wilson & Barber, 1983, p. 373) and the literature to suggest thatconcentrated studies ofthe pos­ who, due to the skills they had developed during their habit­ sible relationship between amnesia and fantasy proneness, ual fantasizing, have become capable ofentering profound and between hypnosis and dissociative states in general, may hypnotic states easily. be very informative. Prior to the developmentofthe conceptoffantasy prone­ The purpose ofthis essay is to explore the hypothetical ness and the subsequentresearch ofits possible relationship relationship offantasy proneness to amnesia. Reviewing lit­ to hypnotizability, the dimension of "absorption" received erature on fantasy proneness, absorption, and dissociation attention. This trait was defined by Tellegen and Atkinson may allow the relationship, if one exists, between fantasy (1974) as follows: proneness and amnesia to emerge. The dissociative materi­ als under consideration will include studies on partial or complete amnesia which has been related to traumatic life

46 D1SS0CLUIOX. Yol. !Y. ;'\0. 1. ~Iarch 199\ ,

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events. trauma at its original intensity. The relationship between psychological trauma, amne­ The thirdcategoryoftraits describedbyWilson andBarber sia, andfantasy pronenessas an adaptive andcopingresponse (1983) is the self-reporting of paranormal or psychic phe­ to stress will be examined. In addition, the current phe­ nomena. Many of the fantasy-prone subjects believe they nomenon of individuals reporting their abduction by have the ability to heal, that they experience telepathy and "extraterrestrials" will be reviewed with the following ques­ out-of-bodyexperiences, and thattheyhave contactwith other tion in mind: Does the group of people who believe they worlds. This contactwith otherworldswas reported to occur have been abducted by extraterrestrials inform us of a pos­ during hypnagogic states, "the images seem to individuals sible relationship between'amnesia and fantasy proneness? experiencing them to come from another world, not from their own mind" (p. 364). Wilson and Barber account for CHARACTERISTICS OF these experiences by suggesting that fantasy proneness THE FANTASY-PRONE PERSONALITY enables many people to fantasize with hallucinatory vivid­ ness and therebyexperience the perceptionofspirits, ghosts, Adjustments and Traits or apparitions (p. 365). Wilson and Barber (1983) delineated several traits of This constellation of personality traits for the fantasy­ the fantasy prone personality. These can be divided rough­ prone personality poses intriguing questionswith respect to ly into three categories: (1) childhood behavioral and per­ amnesia. The few cases of amnesia that were spontaneous­ sonalitytraits, (2) fantasizing habitsmaintainedduringadult ly reported by the subjects inWilson and Barber's studywere life, and (3) self-reported paranormal experiences. Fantasy­ linked, by the subjects themselves, to events they did not pronepeopleareusuallyhighlyhypnotizable, although both want individuals to remember. Wilson andBarber'sdatapre­ Wilson and Barber (983) and Lynn and RIme (1988) are sents a picture ofindividuals who, as ohildren and as adults, careful to point out that there is a population of nonfanta­ are capable ofcreating another world or life for themselves. sy-prone personalitieswhich is highly hypnotizable. In addi­ Thisinformationsuggests thatthere maybe two copingmech­ tion, the traitofabsorption hasbeen linked to fantasy prone­ anisms that are readily available to a fantasy-prone person. ness (Lynn and Rhue, 1988). He or she could use an amnesic episode to block a painful Manyofthefantasy-prone subjectsinWilson andBarber's memory, or the individual could create an alternative real­ study (1983) reported that when they were children they ity or memory to replace the traumatic event. believed their dolls had feelings and personalities. Several Young (1988) discusses the structural use of fantasy in ofthe subjects had imaginarycompanions and also engaged the development of alter personalities in the case of multi­ in fantasy games wherein they pretended they were some­ ple personalitydisorder (MPD) patients. Young suggests that one else. Subjects described theirchildhoodbeliefin fairies, the alter personalities may serve a defensive purpose ofm~s­ guardian angels, and spirits, and many reported that cur­ tery and restitution in copingwith authentic trauma (1988). rently, as adults, they still believe in magical creatures. Somethingvery similar to this use offantasyby MPD patients According to the data collected by Wilson and Barber maybeoccurringwith thefantasy-prone population. Ganaway (1983), fantasy-prone adults share the following character­ (1989) underscores the possible impact ofimagination and istics. They spend much oftheir time fantasizing, and "sixty­ the use offantasy as he states that ''Within theworld oftrance five percent ofthe fantasizers typically experience their fan­ logic the uniqueness and vastness of the internal system is tasies as real as real (as hallucinatory) in all sense modalities" limited only by the creativity and psychodynamic needs of (Wilson and Barber, 1983, p. 352). Many reported that they the constructor" (p. 209). The possible link between amne­ hadcontinuedchildhoodfantasizing habitssuchas pretending sia, psychological trauma, and the use offantasy as a coping that they were someone else and creating another world or mechanism maybe further elucidated by an examination of life for themselves. Several subjects reported vivid memo­ the developmental antecedents offantasy proneness. ries ofchildhood. AninterestingcontradictionarisesinWilson andBarber's Devewpmental Antecedents study (1983) when the subjects discuss their exceptionally Lynn and Rhue (1988) specifY that two developmental vivid memories of childhood events: . antecedents emerge from the current literature on fantasy proneness: A small number ofthe fantasizers have amnesia for certain times and events in their lives. They recog­ Hilgard's (1970, 1974) and Wilson and Barber's nize that these amnesic episodes are related to f(1983) research converged in their identification painful, traumatic happenings.... With the fanta­ of two major childhood developmental pathways sy-prone subjects the motivation not to recall to extreme susceptibility and fantasy proneness in unpleasanteventscan becomeexceptionallystrong. later life: (a) encouragement to fantasize from a (p.357) significant adult and (b) fantasizing and involve­ mentin imaginative activities as a means ofcoping These subjects account for specific episodes of amnesia by with lonelinessandisolation, and as an escapefrom explaining that since they tend to re-experience their mem­ an aversive early life environment. (1988, p. 39) ories, amnesia protects them from painfully reinstating the

47 DISSOCIATIO~, Yo!. IV. :'110.1, March 1991 Lynn and Rhue (1988) note that fantasizing due to loneli­ "necessarily conform to mainstream beliefs and social pro­ ness andas an escapefrom a difficultenvironmenthas received cedures" (p. 41). Although the operative hypothesis in Lynn more attention than fantasy proneness which is fostered by and Rhue's work is that fantasy is an adaptive function in a significant adult. This focus is likely to draw attention to nondefensive individuals, the researchers suggest that there fantasy proneness as a coping mechanism, although fanta­ is a subset offantasizers with severe psychopathology.. sizing has also been viewed as a way for children to develop Lynn and Rhue (1988) determined severe psy­ symbolic thinking skills (Rubin, Fein, & Vandenberg, 1983) chopathology in subjects through the use ofMMPI profiles. and to practice problem-solvingthrough role-playing (Garvey, They note a possible antecedent to this mental disturbance: 1977). With respect to the issue of amnesia in fantasy-prone The common thread that runs through these fan­ individuals, traumatic early childhoods become significant tasizers backgrounds is a reported history ofharsh as the relationship between dissociative states and sexual childhood punishment and a frequency of physi­ abuse has become established (Chance, 1986; Nash, Lynn, cal punishment that averaged 13 to 25 instances & Givens, 1984; Putnam, 1985). Lynn andRhue (1988) found per month. (p. 42) that the stressful childhood histories reported by fantasy­ prone subjects often included "physical abuse and a parent This research indicates thata significantminority (20%-35%) who eitherdeserted the family orhadsevere emotional prob­ offantasy-prone individuals maybe maladjusted ifthese per­ lems" (p. 40). A study by Rhue, Buhk, and Boyd (1987) indi­ sons have experienced severe abuse. Lynn and Rhue (1988) cated that subjects who reported abuse were no more sus­ indicate that the psychopathology may include deviant ceptible to hypnotic induction than the control population ideation as itis measured by the PerceptualAberration Scale of nonabused subjects; a provocative finding in this study, (Chapman, Chapman, & Raulin, 1976) and the Magical however, was thatsubjects who were both physically and sex­ Ideation Scale (Eckblad & Chapman, 1983). ually abused as children were more fantasy-prone than The last section of this essay will explore the unusual nonabused subjects. There appears to be a pronounced link ideation ofpeople who believe they have been abducted by between fantasy proneness and abuse, although hypnotiz­ extraterrestrials. If these individuals are determined to be ability is not necessarily correlated with abuse. fantasy-prone, and ifthey have experienced amnesia, and if Furthermore, recent studies have established a strong the possibility ofdelusion is admitted when examining their connection between childhood abuse and the formation of abduction accounts, then it is possible that this population MPD (Putnam, 1985; Putnam, Guroff, Silberman, Barban, may fit in to the sizable minority of fantasy-prone persons & Post, 1986). The role of amnesia in MPD has been high­ with deviant ideation (Lynn & Rhue, 1988, p. 42). Following lighted by a studybyArmstrong & Loewenstein (1990) which through on this idea leads to the speculation that individu­ found that all patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for multi­ als who believe they have been abducted by extraterrestri­ ple personality disorder also had amnesia (p. 452). als may have been abused during childhood. Studies researching the incidence of amnesia in sexu­ Thefantasy-prone individualmightuse two copingmech­ ally abused fantasy-prone subjects would add to the litera­ anisms which have been associated with fantasy proneness: ture on possible correlations between amnesia and disso­ amnesia to block the painful memory and the creation ofa ciative states. Thus far the literature on fantasy proneness nonordinary reality which might include beings such as reveals that amnesia is not a common phenomenon, yet it guardian angels or extraterrestrials. It i~ possible that the could be restricted to that subpopulation of fantasy-prone fantasy-prone individual could imagine alternate events and peoplewho have been traumatized by childhoodsexual abuse. then confuse his or her fantasies with reality. Nadon and Kihlstrom (1987) note that the highlyhypnotizable (top 4%) Psychopathology fantasy-prone subjects in Wilson and Barber's 1983 study Wilson andBarber (1983) determined thatfantasy-prone reported their difficulty in discriminating between memo­ individualsarewell-adjusted peoplein general, although there ries offantasies and memoriesofevents. NadonandKihlstrom are some individualswith psychopathologywho are also fan­ state the following: tasizers. Theyspeculate that "during the days ofCharcotand Janet, a substantial proportion of those diagnosed as hys­ Although this difference may be inflated by sam­ terics were fantasizers" (p. 379). Lynn and Rhue (1988) pling bias, it indicates a responsiveness to hypnosis acknowledge thatthe hysterics diagnosed by Charcot (1889) and a propensity to believe in the reality of imagi­ andJanet (1901) mayhave beenfantasy-prone, yettheymake native, illusory, and hallucinatory experiences. (p. a careful distinction: "Our findings do not imply that fan­ 598) tasizers are aptly characterized as having hysterical qualities" (p. 41). In other words, a fantasy-prone individual should The suggestion here is that fantasy-prone individuals not be equated with an hysterical personality. may use screen memories in such a way as to parallel a pos­ A positive and healthy picture ofthe fantasy-prone per­ sible function of alter personalities in the multiple person­ sonality emerges from the work done by Lynn and Rhue ality disorder syndrome. According to Ganaway (1989): (1988). According to this research, the self-image held by fantasizers is one of creative individuality which does not The use offantasy, hallucination and illusion by the

48 D1SS0CL\T10:\. Yol. JY. :\0. I. ~Iarch 1991 - POWERS

multiple in the psychodynamic formation ofscreen set ofsupporting pseudomemories can be cued by memories has obvious appeal for its adaptational a simple suggestion from the interviewer, andifnot value, serving to conceal from patient and thera­ extinguished could potentially become part ofthe pist perhaps more prosaic but still less acceptable subject's permanent sense ofnarrative truth. (pp. factual traumatic memory material. (p. 210) 208-209)

Before examining the particular cases of those individ­ Major distortions in the patient's historical memory could uals who believe they have been abducted by extraterrestri­ occur if the therapist/researcher unintentionally imposes als, this essay will address the ways in which fantasy prone­ his or her expectations. Ganaway succinctlysummarizes this ness and dissociation appear to belinked. Therearefrequent dilemma: occurrencesofabsorptionand occasional instancesofamne­ sia reported by fantasy-prone individuals. The next section The reconstruction ofmemoryis subjectto so much of this essay will review the Braun's model of dissociation defensive distortion as to require the label of nar­ (1988), and various psychological explanations ofdissocia­ rative truth, or physical reality, as opposed to his­ tion, specifically amnesia. torical truth, or fact-based reality. (p. 210)

DISSOCIATION The effect ofvarious influences upon individuals who expe­ rience dissociative states must be considered when hypno­ The BASKModel sis is used to retrieve memories. In 1988 Braun proposed the BASK Model for multiple personalityand otherdissociative phenomena. The model's Braun (1988) considers dissociation to be a type ofcop­ title is an acronym standing.for Behavior, Affect, Sensation, ing mechanism, and he points out that while amnesia may and Knowledge, these dimensions representing the differ­ block painful memories, it also has unpleasant side effects ent levels at which dissociation might occur. Braun (1988) such as depersonalization. Braun (1988) refers to the defen­ defines dissociation as "the separation ofan idea or thought sive use of amnesic blocks in the extreme case of multiple process from the main stream ofconsciousness" (p. 5), and personality disorder: "Personality fragmentation is a heavy he uses this model to explain such phenomena as behavior price to pay for the escape from pain and conflict; howev­ in automatisms and the suppression ofaffect and sensation er, it may be what allows for survival at the time" (p. 23). of hypnotic anesthesia. Armstrong and Loewenstein (1990) state the following Braun (1988) asserts that distinctive cognitive and phys­ about patients with MPD and dissociative disorders: iological states, i.e., neuropsychophysiologic ( PP) states, are central to the linking of memories in state-dependent Clinicians have also viewed all forms ofloss ofreal­ learning. Braun explains the importance ofNPP states with ity testing and apparent psychotic symptoms, such' respect to retrieval of memories: as hallucinations or passive influence experiences, as manifestations ofa psychosis. We are coming to The basic tenet ofstate-dependent learning is that understand that traumatized patients may mani­ something that is learned in one NPP state is most fest such symptoms as well. In this group (multi-' expeditiously retrieved under the same NPP state. pIe personalityand dissociative disorders patients), ... Ifthe reinforcement ofbehavior occurs in a suf­ however, these symptoms represent a very differ­ ficiently disparate, dissociated NPP state, the effects ent process: they relate to dissociative and self-hyp­ of that interaction will not be available under the notic attempts to defend against intrusion oftrau­ usual NPP state. Ifthe NPP states are too disparate, matic memories into full awareness. (p. 453) retrieval is not possible. (p. 5) The role ofhallucinations and fantasy-based narrative mem­ This model provides a possible explanation for an individ­ ories as coping mechanisms is emphasized by Braun (1988) ual's inability to retrieve memories ofcertain events, unless and Armstrong and Loewenstein (1990). that person experiences a state of consciousness similar to The BASK Model (Braun, 1988) may hold special impli­ that in which the original circumstances were experienced. cationsfor the fantasy-prone personality. In Braunand Sachs' In so~e cases hypnotic induction may be successfully used (1985) explanation for the development of multiple per­ to retneve memories. sonality,which theycalled the 3-P Model (PredisposingFactors, . ~anaway (1989) discusses possible problems that may Precipitating Events, and Perpetuating Phenomena), there a~Ise In the use of hypnosis with both multiple personality are two significant factors which playa crucial role in this dIsorder and dissociative disorders: dissociative disorder. These two factors are 1) "A natural inborn capacity to dissociate," and 2) "exposure to severe Hypnosis increases confidence in the veracity of overwhelming trauma such as ... inconsistently alternating both correct and incorrect recalled material. ... abuse and love ... during childhood" (Braun, 1988, p. 17). Others.have demonstrated experimentallyhow the The ability to fantasize and the occurrence oftraumatic early formatIon of an entire belief system with its own childhoodswere also identified as instrumental to the devel-

49 DlSSOCL\TIO:'\. \'01. I\'. :'\0. l. ~Iarch \99\ opment of some types of fantasy proneness and multiple average imagery ability. (p. 741) personality is suggested by the fact that the developmental antecedents for fantasy proneness and multiple personality There is, according to Frankel (1976), a fundamental reper­ overlap. toire ofresponseswhich bothanimalsandhumanshavewhen The BASK Model presents dissociative disorders on a confronted with danger: fight, flight, or immobility. A dis­ continuum from full awareness through repression. If the tinction between animals and humans is made with respect individualwho believesheorshe has beenabductedbyextrater­ to the third response, immobility. In animals, this immo­ restrials has produced an alternate reality for amnesic bility is regarded as a freezing response, with its evolution­ episodes, then the BASK Model may provide a useful way to ary roots in camouflaging (if the animal stands still it may conceptualize the extraterrestrial abduction phenomenon. not be seen or pursued by the predator). In humans, immo­ Braun (1988) uses the BASK Model to illustrate psychogenic bility may be related to hypnotic capability, a type of "spon­ amnesiaofa systematized form wherein datafor specific and taneous self-hypnosis as a primitive coping tactic" (Frankel, related eventshave beenlost (p. 15). Ifthe so-called abductee 1976, p. 35). Researchers (Spiegel, Hunt, & Dondershine, has blockedmemoriesofNPP-lined traumaticmemories, then 1988; Stutman & Bliss, 1985) speculate that posttraumatic perhaps these memories have been chained and reformulat­ stress disorder may be a form of hypnosis which the sus­ ed as an alternative life history which includes extraterres­ ceptible individual uses to cope with extraordinary trauma. trial visits at intervals of time. The time intervals between Bliss (1988) speculates that an unrecognized abuse of self­ abductions may actually be the time intervals between hypnosis could also be at the heart of the MPD syndrome. instances of traumatic abuse. A dissociative perspective of Amnesia is an important component in the posttrau­ this beliefsystem has great potential for making visible pre­ matic stress disorder syndrome. Two major groups ofmem­ viously overlooked explanationsfor the extraterrestrial phe­ ory-related symptoms have been identified in the posttrau­ nomenon. maticstresssyndrome: (1) cognitivebreakdownwith amnesia Ganaway (1989) states that the following question must as a focal symptom and (2) intrusive recollections and reliv­ be asked about the MPD population who claim to have been ingoftraumatic events (Spiegel, Hunt, & Dondershine, 1988). subjected to satanic cult ritual abuse: Spiegel, Hunt, and Dondershine (1988) offer the following explanation for these two seemingly incompatible groups To what degree do these vividly reenacted experi­ ofsymptoms which are observed to co-exist: ences represent purely factual accounts of multi­ generational cult activities with actual human sac­ What may occur in response to trauma is a polar­ rifices as described versus fantasy and/or illusion ization ofexperience inwhich traumavictims alter­ borrowingits core materialfrom literature, movies, nate between intense, vivid, and painful memories TV, otherpatients' accounts orunintentional ther­ and images associated with the traumatic experi­ apist suggestion? (p. 211) ence and a kind of pseudonormality in which the victims avoidsuchmemories, using traumaticamne­ This question must also be posed for those individuals who sia, other forms ofdissociation, or repression with allege extraterrestrial abduction experiences. . .. a constriction ofthe range ofaffective response. (p. 301) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociation Research (e.g., Stutman & Bliss, 1985; Spiegel, Hunt, & Therefore, it has been hypothesized that amnesia plays a Dondershine, 1988) indicates that there is a positive corre­ role in PTSD syndrome which is similar to the part it may lation between hypnotizability/highimageryabilityand post­ playfor thefantasy-prone individual-amnesiablocks, atleast traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) inVietnamveterans.A ques­ temporarily, the recalling ofand subsequent reliving oftrau­ tion arises concerning which condition precedes the other: matic events. The fantasy-prone person and the individual (1) Is the veteran with posttraumatic stress disorder more with PTSD do not simply recall in memory from a past trau­ hypnotizable due to the trauma he or she has undergone, ma, instead they re-experience the painful event. Amnesia or (2) Does the posttraumatic disordered individual react providesbarriersthatallow these individuals to exclude trau­ to psychological trauma with this syndrome because he or ma from conscious awareness and to cope with daily life. she is initially a highly hypnotic individual? Although this Spiegel, Hunt, and Dondershine (1988) indicate that question cannot be answered by the research conducted by many PTSD patients consider "their memories to be incom­ Stutman and Bliss (1985), they emphasize the definite rela­ patible with conducting an ordinarylife" (p. 304) and there­ tionship which manifests between hypnotizability and post­ fore need to maintain the amnesic barriers which separate traumatic stress disorder: memoriesfrom ordinarilyinaccessible material. Sets or "rules" appear to govern what can and cannot be remembered. On the basis ofour experience with several severe Although the individual may be carrying on his or her life cases ofposttraumaticstress disorderwith dissociative without conscious awareness of an earlier trauma, there is, symptoms,we hypothesizedthatveteranswithsevere at some level, an awareness offragmentation. posttraumatic stress disorder would have high hyp­ notic susceptibility scores and would exhibit above

50 D1SS0CL\TIO\". \'01. [Y. \"0. I. }[arch 1991 - - : POWERS "

Once the selfis divided in a powerful way, the expe­ In these extraterrestrial accounts, amnesia is viewed as rience of unity becomes problematic, since ordi­ one of the more powerful interventions used by alien intel­ naryself-<:onsciousnessis no longersynonymouswith ligence. Hypnotic regressions arefrequently used to retrieve the entirety of self and personal history. Rather it memories of the abduction experience. With state depen­ becomesassociatedwith the awarenessofsomeward­ dent learning theory in mind, the following question needs ed off tragedy .... The kinds of events that mobi­ to be addressed: Is it possible that under hypnosis subjects lize dissociation as a defense also seem to be those report traumatic sexual tamperingwhich is actually a recon­ inwhich the patient'svolition is physicallyoverridden. struction of an earlier dissociated experience-that of (p. 304) , painful sexual abuse in earlychildhood? Hypnosis could cre­ ate a neuropsychophysiologic (NPP) state which is close to The literature on posttraumatic stress disorder con­ the dissociated state the individual was in during the origi­ centrates on the Vietnam veteran's situation; italso includes nal trauma.Thispossibilitycouldbe explored throughresearch information gathered from victims of rape and victims of which employs intensive interviewing of abductees and extraordinarycatastrophessuchas earthquakes. The keyfac­ assessment tests including a sexual dysfunction inventory tor in PTSD seems to be the overriding ofvolition. The cases and a measure offantasy proneness. . ofindividualswho believe they have been abducted and sex­ In addition, the practice of using hypnosis to retrieve uallyviolated by extraterrestrials are accounts ofbeing phys­ these memories must in itself be challenged. Ganaway ically overpowered. The last section ofthis essay will tum to (1989) pointsoutthe similaritiesbetween patientswho allege reports from a few individuals who state that they have been satanic cult ritual abuse and UFO abductees: tampered with by extraterrestrials. Questions concerning the fantasy proneness ofthese individuals~and the possible Close examinationofthese abduction accounts (UFO) role ofamnesia in their accounts will be considered. by anyone familiar with the satanic cult ritual abuse memoriesofcomplex MPD patients reveals an inter­ UFO ABDUCTIONS, AMNESIA, esting parallel between the clinical phenomenolo­ AND FANTASY PRONENESS gies of the two groups. UFO abductees are highly hypnotizable, highlyimaginative, and typicallyuncov­ A body ofliterature currently exists which describes the er their first memories ofan abduction experience purported abduction ofselected individuals byextraterres­ duringhypnoticinterrogation byself-proclaimed UFO trials. These self-reports usually contain several overlapping abduction experts. (p. 213) characteristics: the abductee often believes he or she has been targeted for genetic research or reproductive purpos­ Ganaway (1989) explains that these "experts" were consult­ es; as a direct result of this interest in genetics or repro­ ed due to the subjects' experiences of "missing time" and duction the individual frequently reports that sperm/ova posttraumatic stress symptoms including anxiety attacks, are taken from the body through painful procedures and a depression, and increased startle response. The influence general examination ofthe bodyis often described; and the ofthe hypnotist as well as that ofexogenous influences such person usually reports periods ofamnesia which have been as television, movies, andbookswhich portray the UFO abduc­ deliberately imposed to protect either the human abductee tion story may facilitate the individual's identification with from destructive knowledge ofthe experience or to protect allegedextraterrestrialabductions. Thenheorshe may "seize the extraterrestrials from being detected. One of the more upon the UFO abduction hypothesisas the only 'logical' expla­ popular purported nonfiction accounts of extraterrestrial nation" (Ganaway, 1989, p. 213). abductions, Missing Time (Hopkins, 1981), contains a pas­ Contamination of the retrieved memories by the hyp­ sage where the author describes how extraterrestrials sup­ notistshould be considered. Ganaway (1989) notes thatcer­ posedly use amnesia to manipulate people: tain individuals have attained celebrity status as UFO abduc­ tionexpertswhoconducthypnoticinductions. Onewell-known (Inanextraterrestrialaccountofanindividualwhose author, Budd Hopkins, has been called the Typhoid Mary pseudonym is David Oldham), Oldham was riding ofUFO abductions (Klass, 1989).Theiatrogenicfactors inher­ in the back seat of a two-door car. When the car ent in the use ofhypnosis by UFO "experts" to retrieve mem­ was stoppedand theabductionbegan, his two friends ories from alleged abductees are apparent. in the front were somehow switched off. Oldham The quality of fantasy proneness may enable individu­ pushed the seat-andhis companions-forwardand als to, in essence, fill in the gaps created by amnesia. People got out only with great difficulty. He walked on, who report that they have been abducted by extraterrestri­ compelledas itwere, towards a huge light, andlater; als usually recall, under hypnosis, that these incidents have after the abduction was over, struggled back into been occurring at intervals since early childhood. Hopkins the rear seat past his "suspended" friends. By the (1987) summarizes this feature: time their animation returned, David's memories ofhis UFO experience had vanished, and were not An individual, male or female, is first abducted as restored until he was hypnotically regressed years a child, at a time possibly as early as the third year. later. (pp. 107-108) During that experience a small incision is often

51 DISSOCLHIO;\. Yol. IY. ;\0. I. ~larch 1991 FANTASY PRONENESS

made in the child's body, apparently for sample­ is of note that recent research assessing fantasy proneness taking purposes, and then the child is given some in alleged abductees has provided contradictory results. sort of physical examination. There will often fol­ Bartholomew, Basterfield, and Howard (1991) conducted a Iowa series of contacts or abductions extending retrospective study of biographical content and found that through the years of puberty.... In the cases in "in 132 out of 152 cases (S7%), one or more of the major which artificial insemination is attempted, the symptoms ofFPP [fantasy proneness] profile were reported women are apparentlyre-abductedaftertwo orthree for a UFO abductee or contactee" (p.3). However, Ring and monthsofpregnancy,and the fetus is removedfrom Rosing (1990) embedded a ten-item fantasy proneness scale the uterus.... Some ofthe male abductees... have inan inventoryassessing childhoodexperiencesand he states: also been subjected to a kind of involuntary sexu­ "Fantasyproneness is notafactorthatdifferentiates ourexpe­ al intercourse.... UFO abductees are not like peo­ riential from our control groups" (p.70). Ring (1990) criti­ ple who've had a single traumatic experience.... cizes fantasy proneness as being "too composite a variable They are people who have been, at intervals over for the conceptual work it is being asked to do" (p.1S7). the years, involuntarily subjected to a frightening If indeed alleged abductees are using their narrative and invasive secret life. (pp. 2S1-2S4) memories to screen unacceptable historical memories, the following question needs to be asked: Why this particular The systematized nature ofthese recalled visitations may be fantasy? A useful approach to the etiology of this belief sys­ compared to the case of systematized amnesia (Braun, tem is provided by the third factor in Kluft's Four-Factor 19SS). According to the BASK model, certain traumatic expe­ Theory (19S4) for understanding the origins of the MPD riences may be systematically stored so that they are inac­ syndrome. Kluft's factors include 1) inherited dissociation cessible to daily consciousness. These groups of memories potential, 2) traumatic life experiences that overwhelm non­ create an alternate reality which may be recalled in a simi­ dissociative adaptive ego defenses, 3) certain shaping influ­ lar PP state such as that brought about by hypnotic induc­ ences and substrates that determine the form taken by the tion. dissociative defense, and 4) inadequate restorative experi­ The frightening and involuntary aspects ofthese abduc­ ences by significant others. Ganaway (19S9) elaborates the tion reports is reminiscent ofthe type ofexperiences which role of this third factor: can trigger posttraumatic stress disorder, the overriding of volition (Spiegel, Hunt, & Dondershine, 19S5). Many No doubtthere are manyreasonswhy specific themes researchers (Ring, 19S9; Thompson, 19S9) agree that the are chosen for development by a patient in shap­ individualwho reports an extraterrestrial abduction is telling ing fantasy-based trauma memories as a means of an important story aboutan authentic experience. What has coping with fact-based trauma. Impinging on this actually transpired, the form of the trauma, is very debat­ psychodynamic formulation would be ... extrinsic able and little understood. Van Benschoten (1990) states religious, sociocultural and interpersonal (object that MPD patients who allege satanic cult ritual abuse often relational) influences, as well as perhaps neu­ include accounts of impossible events. For example, one roanatomical and neurophysiological factors. (p. child insisted that her heart was exchanged for that of an 214) animal. Yet, Van Benschoten (1990) asserts the following: The fact that amnesia is an integral part ofthe extrater­ Whatis always irrefutably true and undeniablyaccu­ restrial abduction experience has important implications rate is the survivor's experience, and it is this which for dissociation, specificallyfantasy proneness. Systematized must be believed without question, embraced, and amnesia may be an ongoing coping mechanism which some struggled with in the therapy. (p. 2S) fantasy-prone individuals use in a special way: to develop an alternative reality to take the place oftrauma so severe that The abductee also appears to have much in common it threatens to fragment the personality. Extraterrestrial with the fan tasy-prone personality. One feature ofsome fan­ abductees may be fantasy-prone individuals who creatively tasy-prone individuals is that he or she believes in beings construct stories ofbeing overpowered sexually to account such as guardian angels (Wilson & Barber, 19S3) while fre­ for the neuropsychophysiological states they cannot con­ quently the abductee believes a designated extraterrestrial sciously retrieve-the amnesic episodes they achieved dur­ watches over him or her (Strieber, 19S7). For the most part, ing or after painful sexual abuse. abductees function well in society (Hopkins, 19S7) as do The abduction phenomenon, and the amnesiawhich is most fantasy-prone individuals (Lynn & Rhue, 19SS). reported to accompany it, need to be explored further in Administeringan inventoryforfantasy proneness to abductees order to better understand the subjective experiences ofthe wouldinform this comparison.Also, intensive interviews could individualswho claim to be abductees. Nadon and Kihlstrom be used to discover whether abductees have had the two (19S7) sU-ess the importance of investigating purportedly developmental experiences which are antecedents to fan­ paranormal phenomena: tasy proneness: (1) encouragement to fantasize from a sig­ nificant adult, and/or (2) fantasizing as a way to escape from The study ofanomalous experience can profitably an aversive early life environment (Lynn & Rhue, 19SS). It be approached from a psychological perspective

52 D1SS0CIATlO\'. Yol. IY. \'0. 1. ~Iarch 1991 using the paradigms of normal science. Although tions. New York: Marek. mainstream psychology has been slow to examine these experiences, anumberofobservationsappear Hopkins, B. (1987). Intruders: The incredible visitations at Copley Woods. New York: Ballantine. to warrant more vigorous interest .... Personal reports of ostensibly paranormal phenomena are Klass, P. (1989). UFO abductions: A dangerous game. New York: widespread, and quasi-delusional beliefs in their Prometheus Books. objective reality are even more prevalent. (p. 598) Kluft, R (1984). Treatmentofmultiple personality. Psychiatric Clinics Investigation of the special population who constitute the ofNorth America, 7,9-29. extraterrestrial abductees may lead to useful information Lynn, S.]., & Rhue,].W. (1988). Fantasyproneness: Hypnosis, devel­ about fantasy proneness, dissociation, amnesia in general, opmentalantecedents, and psychopathology. AmericanPsychologist, and responses to psychological trauma. • 43,35-44.

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54 DISSOCL\.TIO\'. \'01. IY. \'0. I. ~Iarch 1991