BIRTH TRAUMA AND “ABDUCTIONS” Alvin H. Lawson, a longtime UFO investigator in southem California, has advanced a startling hypothesis — that those “abduction” stories people tell under hypnosis primarily reflect rot something in the objective reality, but ‘rather the long-suppressed memory of birth and prenatal ex- periences. He suggests that most of the details commen to stories produced under hypnosis of being “abducted” onto a ‘UFO actually have close counterparts in the birth process — the long tunnel leading. in, the huge interior of the UFO, the often-painful physical ex- amination by “enlities” who are garbedt similarly to hospital. person- nel, and the “levitation” through the air! Lawson's theory is bound to make an impact: First. it questions what many observers consider the weakest aspect of the commonty-advanced UFO lore — the use of the dubious technique of hypnosis, and the exotic stories peo- ple tell while hypnotized. Second, it is testable — it’s not “just another wild idea” incapable of proof or disproof. Lawson has conducted some significant tests of the theory, and is open to other ways of checking it Further. Third, it conforms to the standard ‘of the basic rule of the philosophy of science called Occam's Razor or the Principle of Parsimony — the pref- erence for the simple direct explana: tion over the complex, The theory thus opens the way to a more rigorous approach to other aspects of the UFO phenomenon as weil. Let me describe Lawson's hypoth: esis in a somewhat dramatized way that I think demonstrates its sheer power. For most of us, if not virtually all of us, the most frightening event that ever happened to us was being born. By Robert Wanderer Here we ate in the security of this nice comfortable place. the only place we have ever known. Although re- cent research indicates that we are aware in the womb of far more than was previously thought, and that we are effected by such matters as strange foods our mother eats and ‘even the fears and doubts she may have about bearing a baby. we never- theless presumably do enjoy the security of being in our own place, of having all our needs supplied. and even of enjoying the sounds and feel- ings we become aware of. Suddenly all hell breaks loose. We begin to move — to move, of all things! — to move involuntarily out ‘of our place. We are propelled and pushed and pulled and shoved and squeezed and slithered through 2 long dirk tunnel. Not only is the move- ment unexpected and beyond our control, but how could there be any place other than the only place we've ever known? ‘The most terrifying things are yet to come. When we reach the other end of the tunnel, we emerge abrupt- ly into a scary place: a huge room. hundreds of times bigger than the only place we have known. It’s prob- ably searingly illuminated, with harsh bright lights assaulting our eyes that had known only dimness and dark. ness. And the “entities” They are usually dressed in plain white ap- parently seamless garments that cover practically everything, even the bot: tom half of their faces, so that large ‘eyes appear to be peering out at us ‘One of these entities — usually the biggest one, with the deep voice — roughly grabs us, lifts us sharply up- ward, holds us upside down, and delivers a hard and painful slap on our back. We let out 2 yow! and begin another strange experience — breath- ing. But breathing is “natural” and our body has been preparing for it, 30 that might not be a6 upsetting as the rest Now the big entity examines us close: ly — if we were able to hear and understand, we might pick up his mumbling ... “Let me see... two eyes, two ears, ten fingers, ten toes =. well, this one seers okay.” He jabs and pokes at our body a few more times before he's satisfied. The other entities are probably not quite 30 rough with ws — one of them cleans the goo off our body and does a few other things we dont’ under: stand. Finally we are turned over to a different entity, but this one turns out to feel and act and sound like the place we used to be. After a while, we are securely bundled and- set own to get some sleep. This whole scary, frightening, shocking experience is simply too much for us to cope with at the age of $ minutes. Since we have no ex: perience to relate it to, we repress the event and its terror, somewhere down there in the “bottom of our brain.” Now, it’s 20 years, or 30 years, or 40 years later, and we've just had some sort. of UFO experience, per- hhaps 2 close encounter in which something (it might be a meteor or ‘some strange meteorological or elec: ‘tromagnetic effect) swooshes very near to us, and the shock renders us ‘unconscious, of “blacked out,” or into soine unusual state of consciousness, for anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, What happened during this “lost time’? A UFO investigator suggests regressive hypnosis. ‘A good hypnotist, of course, Is ceareful not to lead the subject on, not to suggest material to someone aleady ina highly suggestible state, But the mere fact of being hypno: tized, of expecting to be regressed to the time of your blackout, is sugges: tion enough. And when the hypnotist ontinuad on next page)Birth Trauma, Continued relaxes us and gets down there where this birth trauma has been languishing repressed all those years and asks us to tell about that UFO we saw, we create a story combining the material there with what we know about UFOs, presumably in a manner sim ilar to the way we create dreams in ur sleep every night. We are taken, we say, through 2 fong tunnel, and on board a UFO. It turns out to be huge, much larger than the few square feet or so that the UFO had appeared to be. The interior is brightly illuminated. There are “en- tities” with large heads and eyes, dressed in plain usually seamless clothing. who “levitate” us onto a table and proceed to examine our body. Such, basically. is the scenario of the typical hypnotic regression. Lawson suggests that these “abduc- tion” stories are actually our elabora- tion of the long-suppressed frightene ing event of birth. Read the descrip- tion of almost any “abduction” and ‘you'll usually find factors such as loss ‘of control, bright light: levitation, 2 tube or tunnel, a vast room, a physical examination — all “events” that can easily be memories of birth ex: perience, Look also at the drawings that hypnotic subjects produce, such as the one on page 52 of The An reason Affair and at Figure 5 in the appendix of The Tujunga Canyon Con facts? Virtually any such book with drawings will provide examples. Thave tried to describe the birth trauma hypothesis in terms of the “perceptual reality” of the being-born baby and of our adult “unconscious.” Lawson, as befits a college professor, has written his hypothesis in proper academic scholarly form. From his background of teaching English erature, he has traced archetypes and images which appear in many forms — in literature, in dreams, in UFO reports. in fact. his hypothesis goes further than my explication of it: he suggests that the fetus becomes aware of its own shape and form, and he believes that much of the imagery used by hypnotized UFO subjects relates to earlier experiences in the womb, Lawson suggests, for example, that the common “abduction” report of doors which appear suddenly and disappear immediately afterward are related to the opening of the cervix inv the birth process: that the placenta may emerge in UFO narratives as the shape of a UFO craft and also as a backpack worn by “entities”: that the “entities” seen appear to be “typically fetal humanoids.” He draws support from the exten: sive work of psychiatrist Stanislav Grof who has found over many years that patients treated with LSD often report “‘eliving their own birth trauma” during sessions with LSD. Lawson argues that the UFO “abduc- tion” is similarly essentially a mental rather than an actual physical ex: perience “Abductees tell the truth as they have experienced it,” Lawson believes, “although actual events are something else again.” He considers “abductions” to be “real” in the sense of having “psychological validity” for the hypnotized subject Lawson coconducted a test a few years ago in which eight volunteers were hypnotized and asked to come up with a story about being abducted ‘onto a UFO. in analyzing the stories, he found them significantly similar to stories told under hypnosis by people who had a UFO experience, sug: ‘gesting that both the “reaf” and “im- aginary” stories might have a com: ‘mon source.” ‘A more recent Lawson study on imaginary abetuctions involved eight people whose births were by cesarean section. He found that seven of the tight used no tube or tunnel imagery in describing how they got on or off the UFO. It tured out that the eighth cesarean subject, whose story did in- clude some tube/tunnel imagery (such as those found in people with normal births), had spent an hour in the birth canal before her mother hemorthaged and the doctor changed to the cesarean method. (The next article will dics the reactions, otk of agreement and of bjecons. 10 Lawson's hypothesis, ad will explore the im plications: of the theory for the UFO move- ment) NOTICE TO STATE DIRECTORS UFO sighting reports submitted on standard sighting report forms to MUFON headquarters by Field In- vestigators and other members of the State teams all are filed, entered into computer data banks, referred to MUFON consultants as appropriate, and otherwise become a useful part of the growing mountain of information about UFOs. The journii, however, does not always have sufficient staff to convert these reports into manu- scripts suitable for publication to keep membersisubscribers informed. For any report that you feel war ranis publication in the Jownul, please submit along with the eepott forms & narrative summary of the case (typed, double-spaced) including the standard journalistic information: Who, What, Where, When ... and any prelim- inary evaluations or analyses. Photo- graphs or orginal artwork (not Xerographic copies) will help us to report the story im the most infor- mative, accurate, and professional ‘manner. We suggest that each State organ- ization utilize the services of an ex- petienced writer or editor to expedite the publication of interesting and potentially significant UFO cases so that our readers will be kept informed ‘on a current basis. The present situa- tion is that we receive masses of rite information not in a form suitable for publication, We need the help of reporters willing and able to submit the information in manuscript form. REFERENCES 1. Alvin H. Lawson. “A Testable Hypothesis forthe Origin of Fillacious Abluction Reports: ‘Bit Trauma Imagery in CEAll Narratives” paper delivered at the CUFOS conference Sept. 25.27, 1981 (la be published later) 2 Reymond E. Fowler. The Andensoe AM (N} Prenfice Hall, 1973. 3 Ann Dnufel and D. Scott Rogo, The Tempe Canyon Contes ON: Prentice Halll. 1980. 4 Lawson, “Alien” Roott: Six UFO Eatity ‘Types and Some Possible Earthly Ancestors” in 1977 MUFON UFO Symposium Pro ceeding. 5 Lawson, “What Can We Learn from Hyp- nosis of Imaginary Abductees”” in 1977 MUFON UFO Symposium Proceedings. ©. From Lawson's CUFOS paper (ference 1).BIRTH TRAUMA AND “ABDUCTIONS” Note: This is the second of 2 articles. Alvin H. Lawson's birth trauma theory pases a strong challenge to the conventional UFO wisdom. As detail: cd in the previous article in the April 1982 MUFON UFO Joumal, (No. 170), his hypothesis suggests that the “abductions” described by hypnotiz- ed subjects may be linked with the memory of the shack of being bom. Most UFO leaders asked to comment considered the hypothesis to be worth exploring. although many termed it “simplistic” or objected on other grounds Lawson propounded the challenge in the opening paragraph of his paper at the 1981 CUROS conference: “Those who believe that UFO ab- dictions relate to alien beings. parallel universes, oF other exotic hypotheses will ultimately have to ex- plain—along with the lack of unam- biguous physical evidence—why the incidents and images reported by ab- ductees are so. similar to those reported in a variety of obviously psychological processes.” The similarities are to the images reported in drug-induced hallucinations, near- death. experiences, religious and metaphysical ecstasies, shamans’ tances, and particularly fetal and birth trauma Dr. Richard F. Haines, a CUFOS research associate with long ex perience in the field, termed Lawson's hypothesis a “bold, creative step that will force the UFO community to consider it.” While he does not necessarily agree with of accept the theory, he urges that it be carefully considered. Richard Hall, editor of this journal, ly cautious, He feels Lawson's hypothesis may “have some beating on certain aspects of abduc- tion story content.” but that Lawson “tried to apply his notion too widely. and in that sense itis simplistic” and By Robert Wanderer “fails to account for fundamental aspects of abduction reports.” ‘A more extended comment comes from Dr. Berthold E, Schwarz, a psychiatrist who has written exten- sively on telepathy and ch psychology as well as UFO's. Although he has not read and studied Lawson’ paper. he finds it curious why psychiatrists “do not see pa: tients, who have had supposed ex- cessive psychological or actual physical birth trauma, present UFO abduction as their chief complaint.” The UFO cases he has investigated ‘had so many complexities that 1 would be reluctant to invoke the bicth trauma hypothesis without first ob- taining other detailed data.” Schwarz points out that the birth trauma hypothesis originally pro- pounded by psychoanalyst Otto Rank “could superficially be ap- plicable or symbolic for many situa- tions, and he and his followers did just that.” But, he says, the fact that “one might find the birth trauma hypothesis attractive in explaining some UFO abduction experiences, or that close encounter UFO contactees might obtain relief from this possible explanation, does not mean that it is correct. The UFO abduction ex. perience, whatever the cause and however:the psychological and sym- bolic aspects are to be interpreted, cannot be easily explained. if explain- ed at ll, without fist having a careful psychiatric investigation of all the relevant life-experiences of the con- tactee. This is seldom done. “4f the birth trauma hypothesis was likely, one would expect the con- tactee’s past history to include many related events with birth trauma overlays leading up to the alleged UFO abduction. In those cases I have studied, this has not been so. “However. Dr. Lawson is a respected UFO researcher who has imaginatively applied insights that he has learned to the UFO problem. Fie should be encouraged for his in- novative thinking, for possibly others will use his approaches or find related nei a will dent this refractive problem! Schwarz finds it of interest that those who have used hypnosis in their psychiatric work over the years have reported few if any UFO abduc- tion experiences by their patients ‘Abo, “if the birth trauma hypothesis is applicable, how is it that those who use it in their clinical work have not reported cases with alleged UFO close encounter experiences? And how is it that patients who have had known birth traumas seldom if ever come forth with UFO abduction. ex- periencest” Budd Hopkins. author of the recent Missing Time, rejects Lawson's hypothesis. He raises four objections: 1. “Investigation into a number of abduction cases has established beyond doubt that certain subjects found to be missing were being sear- ched for during a fixed period of time, When many of these subjects reappeared, they bore specific pune: ture marks. bloodstains, incisions or cother visible signs which they were unable to explain, They were somewhere and suffered real injuries. What happened? Lawson's theory sidesteps these physical problems, which are central to abduction ac- counts. 2. "Many abduction accounts are remembered whole, consciously. just ‘as one might remember a rape or a mugging one has just undergone. Hypnosis is in no way involved. However, Lawson is required to focus ‘on hypnosis to provide a situation in which his theoretical birth and con: ception memories can come floating (Continued on mex! page)Birth Trauma, Continued Lup out of the past, and thus his theory deals with only some abduction ac- counts, The consciously recalled ab- ductions, nearly identical to: those recollected under hypnosis, he must again sidestep. 3. “Unfortunately, we cannot escape our circumstances, Lawson is an English teacher, a profession in which symbol-mongering can often become a lifetime habit. A firstrate teacher of English Lit can make almost any set of symbols fit any novel. In his CUFOS presentation Lawson showed that he was very adept at this, up to the point where certain obsessive overkill set in: towards the end his slides more or less connected anything with everything. In answer to a question he was unwill- ing to try to invent an abduction scenario to which his bith trauma symbols would not apply, thereby ad- mitting that his theory is non- falsifiable. If anything one can im- agine in any hypothetical abduction account can be explained by is pa ticular boro Thing, is explained. 4. “Finally. there is a movement in psychology today to take recollec tions and complaints. more: seriously than before. Freud came to believe that most of his patients’ incest stories were wish fulfilling fantasies. Today. even 30 committed a Freudian as Dr. JM. Masson believes that those early Incest stories were more probably ac- tual recollections. and the dramas took place. not in the patient's mind, but inthe real world.” Hopkins adds: “In applying this insight to Lawson's theorizing. 1 would like to say that I wish Lawson were right. it ‘must be infinitely more comforting to hold the belief that these harrowing accounts are figments of the imagins- tion, than to face the idea that they really happened.” ‘Ann Druffel. who coauthored The Tuiunga Canyon Contacs, raises some other questions. “Why.” she asks, “haven't people all through the ages seen and experienced ‘abductions ” Further, since birth can and has been experienced in a “real” sense under Simultaneous Close Encounters (Note: Dr. Berthold E, Schwarz, in addition to his comments on. the Lawson birth trauma hypothesis (see accompanying article), also sent along the following report of simultaneous close encounters, which he believes & a never-before: published “scoop,”) Recently | talked with my distinguished colleague, Leonard J. Ravitz, Jr. M.D., ‘who has used hypnosis extensively throughout his career and has published learn- ced papers on the subject. and was a longtime associate of an acknowledged world authority on hypnosis, the late Milton H. Erickson, M.D." Although Dr. Ravitz has had no patients with UFO.abduetion experiences, he had one personal close ‘encounter UFO experience on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Mechanicsville in May 1956. That same night Dr, Ravitz’s father, also a psychiatrist, and his mother, who were hundreds of mile separated from their son and had no knowledge of his ‘experience, also had a close encounter. Shortly after this, at an American Psychiatric Association meeting in Chicago, Dr. Ravitz, Jr. told Dr. Erickson about his UPO encounter. Dr. Erickson inferred that he had not come across similar UFO experiences in his work, and that he felt the explanation was faulty noctumal perception, Although the two psychiatrists met frequently until Erickson’s death in 1980, the subject of UFOs was never brought up again. Hopefully Dr. Ravitz, Jr. will search his files and some day publish his report It would seem to me. from this unique experience involving two experts on the trance who used it in their therapeutic work, in addition to the numerous UFO contactee cases that I have studied, that a possible basic denominator to the UFO lose encounter cases might be the contactee's trance-like states that often accom zany thew eventa In these imoctie sate he concer points: might be velgalors doctinaire complioee: eg, the coraious and unconsiouly held viewpoints of Alvin Lawson or anybody else, In my experience, those who have frequent trance-like states might be vulnerable to repeater UFO experiences, and that impression might be a significant area to explore; but that does: nat directly depend on the birth trauma hypothesis. Reforms 1. Rawitz, Leonard J. MD. “Leaders in Contemporary Science (Milton H. Erickson, M:D),” Jour! Am Sat of Pachoconh: Derby and Med, V. 28 Ne. 1) 3-10, 1981. 2. Schwarz. BE, LFO-DYNAMICS, Pyehaatic end Py Dimensions of he LIFO Spade. Unpublished ponent hypnosis. “why should there be a need to invent an elaborate scenario of a domeshaped room with con- soles. aliens dressed in overalls, etc. in order to retrieve memories of birth trauma? Why complicate a simple thing?” Still another approach is taken by R. Leo Sprinkle. who has studied and written extensively on contactee ‘cases and hypnotic time regression. He agrees that “abduction” stories “are similar to other psychological processes” such as dreams, hallucina- tions, and birth and death ex pperiences. “However.” he says. ‘I believe that the similarities are an in: dication of the significance of the rites of passage’ and an indication of ‘our own human reactions: | do not believe that these experiences are suk- ficient explanation for UFO abduc- tion and contactee experiences. As ‘we learn more about UFC contactee ‘experiences, I believe that we also will lear more about our physical, biological, psychological, and spiritual characteristics. Then, someday, we may come to the point in time where we either are face to face with UFOLKS, or we arrive at the point where we build flying saucers and become UFOLKS ourselves.” What conclusions can we reach, (Continue om next page)Birth Trauma, Continued then about Lawson's hypothesis and its current status in the UFO field? Clearly, it is a challenge, not “just another wild idea,” because it is testable. Lawson has presented a con- siderable body of circumstantial evidence, and cortducted experiments which show correlation between events of UFO “abductions” and events which are part of the birth pro- cess. Hopefully, other investigators will design and conduct still other ex- periments to test the theory. A further possible longterm effect of the Lawson hypothesis on the UFO movement is that it could well spark a trend toward more specific, more testable theories on other aspects of UFC's.