The -Files: A Review of the Psychological Literature Regarding False Memories of Alien Abduction

  • Joshua David Finkelstein The New School for Social Research

Abstract

Memories of alien abduction events present researchers with a unique opportunity to explore memories for events which, in all likelihood, did not occur. In this review of the literature, the factors which can lead to the development of abduction memories are explored. These include personality and psychopathology variables, as well as instances of sleep paralysis and the effects of hypnosis and memory implantation. In the end, while the events abductees report are unlikely to have occurred, the earnestness with which they endorse these memories is a strong indicator that memory is a malleable and complicated phenomenon, with implications in a wide range of psychological topics.

            Keywords: Alien Abduction, False Memories, Recovered Memories, the truth is out there

Author Biography

Joshua David Finkelstein, The New School for Social Research
New School for Social Research, Psychology Department

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Published
2017-06-13
Section
Articles