Summary of Alien Abductee/Memory Article
Summary of Memory Distortion in Alien Abductee Study
A summary of "Memory Distortion in People Reporting Abduction by Aliens"
Introduction This is a summary of the article by Clancy et al., 2002. The prevalence of alien abduction stories has been increasing in recent history (Bartholomew& Howard, 1998; Newman & Baumeister, 1997). Psychologists have more recently interpreted the stories as evidence of memory distortion (Newman & Baumeister, 1997). Previously published accounts of abduction follow a certain pattern (Hopkins, 1981; Mack, 1994; Streiber, 1987). These narratives share features that are considered a cultural phenomenon due to the media (Lynn, Pintar, Stafford, Marmelstein & Lock, 1998). Sleep paralysis is a non-pathological incident. During sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs, during which the body experiences full body paralysis. If a person wakes during REM sleep, they may experience this paralysis consciously. Full body paralysis lasts no more than a couple of minutes. Hallucinations may be experienced at this time (Hufford, 1982; Spanos et al., 1993). These hallucinations are sometimes interpreted as the aftermath of an alien abduction. These people often seek therapy to recall what happened prior to full consciousness but after sleep was achieved (Lynn, Pintar, Stafford, Marmelstein & Lock, 1998). Only 15% of those who experience sleep paralysis also conclude that an abduction was the cause (Hufford, 1982). The Deese/Roediger-McDermott paradigm was used to study false recall and recognition in three groups: recovered memory, repressed memory and a control, where no abductions were claimed. Four hypotheses were tested. 1) The recovered memory group should show higher false recall and recognition than the repressed memory and control group. 2) Recovered memory and repressed memory groups should score higher on false recall and recognition than the control group. 3) Recovered memory group should score highest, followed by repressed
A summary of "Memory Distortion in People Reporting Abduction by Aliens"
Introduction This is a summary of the article by Clancy et al., 2002. The prevalence of alien abduction stories has been increasing in recent history (Bartholomew& Howard, 1998; Newman & Baumeister, 1997). Psychologists have more recently interpreted the stories as evidence of memory distortion (Newman & Baumeister, 1997). Previously published accounts of abduction follow a certain pattern (Hopkins, 1981; Mack, 1994; Streiber, 1987). These narratives share features that are considered a cultural phenomenon due to the media (Lynn, Pintar, Stafford, Marmelstein & Lock, 1998). Sleep paralysis is a non-pathological incident. During sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs, during which the body experiences full body paralysis. If a person wakes during REM sleep, they may experience this paralysis consciously. Full body paralysis lasts no more than a couple of minutes. Hallucinations may be experienced at this time (Hufford, 1982; Spanos et al., 1993). These hallucinations are sometimes interpreted as the aftermath of an alien abduction. These people often seek therapy to recall what happened prior to full consciousness but after sleep was achieved (Lynn, Pintar, Stafford, Marmelstein & Lock, 1998). Only 15% of those who experience sleep paralysis also conclude that an abduction was the cause (Hufford, 1982). The Deese/Roediger-McDermott paradigm was used to study false recall and recognition in three groups: recovered memory, repressed memory and a control, where no abductions were claimed. Four hypotheses were tested. 1) The recovered memory group should show higher false recall and recognition than the repressed memory and control group. 2) Recovered memory and repressed memory groups should score higher on false recall and recognition than the control group. 3) Recovered memory group should score highest, followed by repressed
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