Abductions are also referred to as space-nappings. Reports of alien abductions include several common elements such as lost time, dream-like trances, bright lights, humanoid-like beings, metallic equipment and instruments, tests and medical examinations and much more. One of the most well-known cases of alien abductions is that of Betty and Barney Hill. The experiences of Antonio Villas-Boas are also popular and represent one of the first abductions on record.
Skeptical Perspective
Abductions seem to correlate with the dawn of the space age and have increased in frequency with the rise in popularity of science fiction and our understanding of the cosmos. The memories of abductees are often recalled through hypnosis. Natural explanations include hypnogogic and hypnopompic phenomena, suggestive hypnosis, hallucinations and other possible causes. A piece of evidence often provided by believers, like John Mack of Harvard University, is that the experiences often contain many of the same elements. Because of the widespread publicity of alien abduction claims, however, this may not be evidence at all. Also, because of the information we have about the possibility of alien visitations, the unreliability of eyewitness testimony, memory and emotionally-significant experiences, it is difficult to take the claims seriously without any evidence. |
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