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The Use of Hypnosis [from Secret Life: Firsthand Documented Accounts of UFO Abductions, 1992] When I first begin the memory recovery process with a subject, I obtain a case history of the abductee, outlining many of the “suspicious” occurences in _ that persons life that might be indicative of an abduction. I do not discuss anything about the specific content of abductions with the subject. Then, with the ab- ductee’s record, I select a memory to be probed. The abductee then consciously relates all that she remembers about the incident, sometimes in surprising detail. We discuss this and then we begin a hypnosis session to ascertain the origin of the occurrences. Hypnosis is an indispensable tool in unlocking the memories of an abduction. Ever since 1963, when Dr. Benjamin Simon first used it on Betty and Barney Hill, UFO researchers have employed it to learn about abductions. It is the best method available to gain detailed access to people’s hidden abduction memories. Hypnosis, however, is not foolproof. Some abductees simply do not remem- ber; when they do remember, especially details, it may be an incorrect memory that they are “filling in.” This can be particularly true when the subject is asked to supply details of an event from childhood. It is easy for a hypnotist to ask (consciously or inadvertently) leading questions that steer the abductee into an answer that may not reflect reality. This can be a problem for suggestible subjects. Confabulation, or the unconscious invention and filling in of memories, can become an easy way of providing information to the eager hypnotist- investigator. In hypnosis, even asking questions about a specific event can put pressure on the subject to invent details of that event to provide the answers to those questions. This problem is com- pounded by the fact that in abduction research, questions about details are routinely asked in order to gather as much information as possible. Even the milieu of the investigation might present problems. Certain expectations are inherent in this situation. The hypnotized person might uncon- sciously invent information about an abduction because that is what is expect- ed. Even the investigator’s beliefs might subtly influence the subject to tell him “abduction” material. Intentional fabrication can be another problem. Even in deep hypnosis, the subject can con- sciously fabricate stories. Yet, despite these potential problems, hypnosis is a valuable instrument of data collection. The abduction accounts are recalled in a surprising manner. For many abductees, once the event is tapped into, the memories seem to pour out without much questioning. When the memories are finally out and discussed, they then are contained in “normal” memory and the abductees tend to forget them as they would any other more or less traumatic memory (thus, often these abductees find it difficult to recall details of the events later on without hypnosis). Other abductees, however, have a very difficult time remembering details of the abduc- a RAL AL Af ate Aine Aveta are on tion during the regression. Much of this depends on the specific abduction that they are trying to recall. The hypnosis I employ consists of light relaxation induction. Basically, I tell the subject to relax in several different ways, use a small amount of visual imagery to “deepen” the trance, and then begin to ask questions. My inductions are usually about fifteen minutes long. The hypno- tized subjects have complete control and are free to challenge questions, refuse answers, or get up and go to the bath- or to 18 David M. Jacobs