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Published
December 1973 ?
Parapsychology: Fiction of Reality?
V. P. Zinchenko
A. N. Leontier
B. F. Lomov
A. R. Luria
Y. P. Zinchenko, A. N. Locatiey, B. F. Jonov, and A. 2. Luria
Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, Moscow, U.B.B.B.
.
ABSTRACT : Parapoychological utadies kara ettracted an over-
increasing amount of attention throughout the world. There-
fore, the time is ripe to express the viewpoint of the U.S.D.P.
Society of Psychologists on this topic. There is no Good for
parapsychology to exist as a separate discipline. The phenon-
was in question could boat to studied by cass estestieto an
psychologists, physiologisto. physicians, biophysicists, and
information theoriess.
Opental attestion should be paid so
individual persons who demonstrate manual abilities. Obviously,
non so-called parapsychological personasa actually do mapper;
hours:, the win chetache to the someplants of their existence
is the ignorance of the haslo ger trois operation.
(Problems)
(1973)
Questions
of Philosophy 37, 128-138,
This article originally award is Amasters of PMlesonay,
37:108-133. It sus translated Szen CON FEDERA OF LIFE
Kibajicviruste and Christopher Wird, and edited by demaley
Eripycor.
Exed reprint requests to Guanlay Stippsor, Lopartment
of Warchiatay, Maisouicha Nacional Center, Brooklyn, M.Y. MAIS,
U.S.A.
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PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY IV 9, 1973
(Translated from the Russian by Maria Mihajlovivesic
and Christopher Bird)
Parapsychology: Fiction or Reality?
V. P. Zinchenko, Member of the Academy of
Pedagogical Sciences of U.S.B. B .; A. N. Leontiev,
Corresponding Number of the Academy of Pedagogical
Sciences; B. F. Lomow, Member of the Academy of
Pedagogical Sciences, and A. R. Luria.
The question put forward in the title of this article
has been discussed for decades in world scientific and popular
literature. Long periods of calm have alternated with periods
of agitation with respect to disclosures on this or that pars-
normal phenomenon. The authors of the present article do not
regard themselves as specialista in the field of parapsychology.
However, the increase in the number of articles (mostly in
popular scientific publications) both in our country and abroad,
un parapsychological observations as well as research conducted
on persons having paranormal abilities, have forced us to
address ourselves to this inouc. One must stress that the over-
whelming majority of articles on this topic are authored by
journalists and only in certain instances are articles by
professional scientiots, such as psychologiats and physiologists,
published. Though the journalistic publications often have
publicity value, they do not come up to the generally accepted
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rigorcus standards of scientific research. Nevertheless, they
are often sympathatically received by scientists of various
disciplinen, not to speak of their favorable reception by the
general public.
In this respect, the results of polls conducted in 1972
and made public in January, 1973, by the editorial board of
the British journal, New Scientist, are significant. In all,
72,000 questionnaires were sent cut. Of the 1,500 scientists
whe responded, about 70 per cent were of the opinion that para-
normal phenomena aro either firmly established (25 per cent) or
entirely probable (42 par cant).
We have no similar data indicating the attitude of Soviet
scientists toward this topic, but many irresponsible publica-
tions havo treated parapsychology in our country in a way which
deeply concerns u. For this reason, we believe that the time
im ripe to express the viewpoint of the U.B.B.R. Society of
Psychologists toward parapsychology, the status of which was
discussed at one of the meetings of the Society's Presidius.
.
The Field of
Parapsychological Research
In the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, parapsychology is
defined as a field of research which basically studies (1)
forms of perception affording a means of receiving information
which cannot be explained by the knows conses, and (2) correspond-
ing forme of the impact of an organism ou physical proacaona
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occurring outside the organism without assistance of muscular
efforts, e.m., by intent, mental influence, etc.
The majority of contemporary parapsychologiets distinguish
the following categories of phenomena:
living organisms
Telepathy: Mental communication between a person trans-
mitting information and one receiving information (referred to
as the sender and the recipient).
With the help of telepathy,
two persons exchange information with no action of the known
sense organs.
In essence, telepathy is the ability to obtain
information from another living being.
Clairvoyance: Perception of certain events, phenomena,
and objects, which provides an individual knowledge without the
participation of the known senso organs.
Precognition: The foretelling of events based on the
reception of information from the future which cannot be based
on the laws of reagon.
This may be a particular type of clair-
voyance .
Dowsing: The means by which persons with the help of an
antenna or rod (a bent metallic wire, branch from a tree, etc. )
can allegedly detect the presence of underground water, ores,
voids and other target objects. This is often referred to as a
"biophysical effect."
The diagnosis of ill ness by means other these
Paradiagnostics.
Medical' diagnosis based on clairvoyance
: 1
11
-
in which there is no contact with the patient.
The above forma of consitivity are often lumped together
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4 .
under the term "extrasensory perception" or ESP. However,
there also exist a class of influences on physical phenomena :
WIEET
Psychokinesis: The mental influence of a person on
events.
surrounding objects, for instance, on-the-normal-electrical
activity of a plant, or on the position in space of various
items (generally light weight objects).
.
1
Psychephotography: A specific case of psychokinesis in
is projected into a concealed photographic emulsion.
which a person-staring into the lens of a camera imprints on
the film a mental representation of an object that be imagines
but which is in reality not present.
Paramedicine: A field-connected with parapsychology which
efected by
involves unexplained methods of treatment-such as healing by non-medice
the laying on of hands and a form of mental wuggestion in which
technique
healing is attempted without immediate contact, sometimes at a
great distance.
All these phenomena are studied by the field described
J
as "parapsychology, " and sometimes termed "psychotronics, " or
. "psychoenergetics." Not long ago, hypnotic phenomena were
unjustifiably regarded as parapsychological. Today, in the
context of parapsychology, hypnosis is used as one of the methods
by which paranormal phenomena are allegedly produced, but is
not considered to be paranormal. Often the abilities of yogis
are incorrectly considered to be paranormal. Sometimes oven
astrology is included in the "discipline" of parapsychology.
To some observers, there is a single underlying mysterious
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"force" or enigmatic "principle" that serves as the basis for
uniting and explaining these phenomena.
However, to consider
such a single basis as adequate for explaining all the phenomena
in such a complex field of scientific research is, in principle,
simplistic and incorrect.
Brief Historic Overview and the Status of Parapsychology Abroad
Since ancient times, paranormal abilities bave been
ascribed to shamans, wizards, lamas, yogis, and the like.
However, we will not survey that topic but will move to the
scientific. In Europe, parapsychology, as a method of systematic
experimental research and observation, came into being in 1882
with the organization, in London, of the Society for Psychical
Research. This organization, which is still in existence, was
the first parapsychological research society. Since that time,
numerous analogous societies have been organized in many countries.
most of which lasted only a short period of time. At the present
timo, there exist many parapsychological societies; most of them
are non-professional in nature and omroll only a small nomber-
ship. Some of the accieties are provided with small laboratories
by private funds and by the dues collected from the organizational
membership. Scientifically-oriented members of the professional
societies are affiliated with the Parapsychological Association,
an international organisation which has ito beadquarters in the
.
United States.
In 1959, the American Association for the
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Advancement of Science, which unites various scientific
societies in the United States, admitted the Parapsychological
association to its membership.
Parapsychological research in the U.S.A. is carried on
at a limited number of universities and other scientific re-
.*
search centers. According to unofficial sources, the American
federal government spends between one-half and one million
dollars a year on parapsychological research.
Some large firms
also lend financial support to the research. One such new
organization is the corporation recently created by Edgar Mitchell,
the American astronaut who was involved in four sessions of
attempted telepathic communication during his flight to the moon.
(A definitive, credible result was not obtained from this study.)
The goal of Mitchell's corporation is to develop paranormal
human abilities and to carry on research in euch areas as para-
medicine and poychokinesis: Mitchell hopes to make his corporation
self-supporting. Among its consultants are the well-known
.
'space scientist Werner von Braun, as well as several sciontista
from fairly respostable research contera. An Academy of
Parapsychology and Medicine is also active in the United States,
with its headquarters in California.
According to statistics compiled by parapsychologists,
there exist more than 240 laboratories and societies in 30
countries of the world.
However, this estimate significantly
uverstates the scientific. work being done in parapsychology.
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Furthermore, the majority of these organizations exist in the U.S.A.
Independent and, as s rule, small-scale scientific re-
search projects of s parapsychological nature are undertaken
from time to time in the medical laboratories of the U.S.A. It
is known that in these laboratories, computer-assisted research
aimed at establishing the existence of extrasensory perception
is being performed.
Foreign
Publications
Results of parapsychological research are usually pub-
lighed in specialized journals in a number of countries. In
America there are more than ten such journals, as well as five
in the United Kingdom, aix in Italy, and two in France. Several
of these publications incorporate parapsychology and astrology.
There are also publications in many other European countries and
in Japan. In addition, some scientific publishing houses pub-
lish a large number of parapsychological monographs as well as
proceedings of parapsychological conferences and symposia.
Material on parapsychology, especially of a sensational
nature, is given broad exposure in such publications as Look
and Stern. occasionally, such respectable scientific journals
as Science and Nature publish articles about parapsychology.
As
a rule, however, scientific journals in the fields of psychology,
physiology, and the other sciences do not publish articles on
parapsychological research.
Between 1960 and 1970
the world's
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Scientific psychological journals published only 13 experimental
parapsychological investigations. Of that number, positive
results were reported in eight cases, the existence of para-
normal phenocena in the other five being unconfirmed. It is
interesting that during the same period, the world's parapsy-
chological journals published 143 experimental research projects
with positive results, and 19 with negative ones (Billig, 1972).
This number does not include surveys, critical notes, and re-
por'te about uncontrolled observations. A large number of hand-
books and textbooks on how to conduct parapsychological research
have been published as well, the latest, a study guide by R. H.
Ashby, appearing in 1972.
The International Union of Psychological Science has not
accepted reports on parapsychological research for presentation
at its Congresses. A sole exception was made at the 20th
International Congress of Psychology, held in Tokyo in 1972,
when a report by the American parapsychologist S. Krippner, was
presented.
While discussing publications, one should not omit certain
attempts at political gain connected with parapsychology.
₩
have in mind primarily a bock by S. Ostrander and L. Schroeder,
Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain. This book was
Written as a result of the authors' visit in 1968 to the U.S.S.R.,
Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia. The authors (who are not scientists)
composed a low-level work with cheap publicity as its main goal.
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Sovietise and vice-versa. The whole effort was very successful
commercially and in less than two years the book went through
five printings. However, the buck is written at a very low
professional level, abounds in factual errors, and contains
overtly anti-Soviet statements. Furthermore, it exaggerates
the "achievements" of Societ "parapsychologists." One often meets
with similar exaggerations on Soviet "parapsychological achieve-
ments" in the Western media, especially in parapsychological
publications and the mass press, but usually without such openly
anti-Soviet overtones. Frequently, one encounters speculations
on the theme of parapsychology and national defense, psychological.
warfare, intelligence gathering, etc. All this speculation
probably serves as a means of obtaining financial support for
parapsychological research. However, the general stream of pars-
psychological literature simply does not contain evidence that
these applications of parapaychology are frequently made.
Parapsychology in the U.S.S.R.
In the 1920s, Professor L. L. Vasiliev, a student of
Academician V. M. Behkterev, conducted research in Leningrad in
the areas of telepathy and clairvoyance. Behkterev originally
joined Vasiliev in this work. Similar research was conducted in
the Ukraine by B. B. Eszhinnky; both Vasiliev and Kazbinsky
set forth tho resulte of their research in scientific monographs
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and books (e.g., Vasiliev, 1964) .
In the U.S.S.R. there is no society which unites para-
psychologists. The proponents of this kind of research have
from time to time joined together to work within sections of
other societies which have usually been scientific and techni-
cal in character.
£
In 1965, & bioinformational section was
organized within the Moscow Division of the Popov Scientific-
Technical Society for Radio-Engineering and Electro-Communication.
The basic area investigated by that group has been telepathic
communication.
In 1967, an All-Union Section for Technical Parapsychology
and Bicintrescopy was organized within the Central Administration
of the Scientific-Technical Society of the Instrument-Building
Industry.
In 1968 and 1971 two scientific technical seminars on
the "biophysical effect" (e.g., doming) were held under its
auspices; in addition, a joint commission for coordinating work
on the problem of the "biophysical effect" was elected. There
. are other individuals and small groups working in various research
institutions and scientific organizations who, either during
their working time or their spare time, conduct research on para-
psychological effects.
In Nizhnil Tagil and other cities in the Urals, research
on the "dermal-optical effect" (the so-called "effect of Rozs
Kulesbeve") has been conducted for a number of years.
:Dermal
vision" is often included in the circle of parapsychological
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into account the results of numerous verifications and analogous
cases observed both abroad and, more recently, in Moscow, it
would seem that the "dermal vision" phenomenon actually exists
and requires careful study. For the time being, however, it is
certainly difficult to make definite conclusions about its
mechanismo.
Publications in the U.S.S.R.
In the U.S.S.R., materials concerning parapsychology are
usually published in collections of abstracts and the proceed-
ings of different conferences and symposia. Thus, in 1972, five
reports on psychokinesis were published in the proceedings of a
conference entitled "Some Questions on the Biodynamics and Bio-
energetics of the Organism in Normal and Pathological States;
Biostimulation by Laser Radiation, " beld at Kazakh State University.
Soviet parapsychologists occasionally publish their results in
technical journals (G.g., Radiotechnology) but, for the most part,
.
*
they appear in popular science magazines with mass circulation
(targeted mainly at young people) and in newspapers.
Usually
these articles present reports about foreign accomplishments.
A great number of stories are written by journalists who,
with their characteristic penchant for exaggeration and sen-
sationalism,
sometimes describe barely positive results as entirely
credible.
These kind of publications are numerous.
It will
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The Young Naturalist, and Knowledge is Power. In 1973, Socialist
Industry also began to treat parapsychological themes. The
popular media usually do not pay any attention to the negative
results published by parapsychological specialists in scientific
journals.
In both Soviet and foreign publications ons may typically
find exaggerations of the results. obtained. Thus, judging by
reports in the American press, long distance telepathy experi-
.
ments were organized in 1966 between Moscow and Novosibirsk, and
between Moscow and Leningrad, which achieved positive and
reliable results. All of this is pure fiction. In the U.S.S.R.,
Komsomol Truth reported that in the telepathy tests between
Earth and "Apollo 14," reliable results were obtained. Edgar
Mitchell, an organizer and participant in these experiments,
wrote that the experiments were primarily done for public
relations purposes, that the results were equivocal, and more-
over, that the number of successes was much lower than the thecry
" of probability would predict. The latter conclusion would have
deserved more attention were it not for Mitchell's statement
about the "public relations" aspect of the experiments. Our
press also devoted special attention to Nina Kulagina, who has
become a universal object of telepathic and psychokinetic research,
In the past decade, no less than 500 articles treating
various aspects of parapsychology were published in the U.S.3.2.
Most of them are reports about poorly conceived "experiments"
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which deserve no serious attention.
Their authors took no
account of the standards of precision formulated for thece ex-
periments by the leading parapsychologists themselves.
Who are the Parapsychologists?
-
The majority of parapsychologists are individuals who
bave had no training in biology or psychology. Among thon aro
a significantly large number of workers in the exact sciences:
engineers, mathematicians, and physicists who, as a rule, have
no psychological training. In the last decade, these specialists
very often (and without sufficient reason) changed their jobs
for positions in medical, physiological, or psychological
institutions. A number of them desired to plunge into research-
ing the most mysterious and most interesting things. As a rule,
these parapsychologists are either persons qualified in their
own fields but unqualified in psychology, who happen to have
observed some "amazing" psychological phenomena, or they are
' persons who have become victims of fraudulent charlatans.
Parapsychologists often have an entirely practical.
motivation, for instance, to discover through their studies of
telepathy, a new means of communication in order to be able to
transmit important information, or through their studies of
psychokinesis, to discover a row form of energy in order to trip
the dotchating switch of an lastrumont from a distance. Strangely
enough, some scientists often show themselves to be childishly
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credulous and naive. Among parapsychologists, one can find
psychiatrists and doctors of other specialtios who in their
practice actually do observe anomalous phenomena which are hard
to explain. Furthermore, they appear to observe these phenomena
more often than their colleagues.
There also exists a category of rather clever persons who
often have no serious background of any kind. These are the very
people. who assume the role of propagandists and impresarios for
those who actually possess unusual abilities. Usually, they are
the ones who insist that parapsychology be recognized as a special,
independent science.
.
Thus, among parapsychologists and their adherents are both
serious specialists and charlatana.
It is necessary to protect
the former from persons who are scientifically unscrupulous and
who use specialists for their own purposes.
The subjects of parapsychological recearch are usually
individuals who possess heightened sensitivity.
However, sometimes
they are simply sick people who suffer from diseases of the pery ous
system.
For instance, people who have "dermal vision" may also
have distinctly expressed cerebral pathologies, fits of hysteria,
etc.
:
During the first decades of parapsychology's existence,
rather primitive methods of research and proof were used such ao
card guessing, the suggestion of dreams or thoughts, etc.
But
distruapproved forKnedse 2682A4greed parapsychology to wsarch for now
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and more reliable means of proof.
A stream of engineers and physicists had a great influence
on research methodology. Assuming that the human brain operates
like an electronic apparatus and that it is possible to apply
to its study concepts taken from corresponding branches of
physics, they brought into parapsychology new methods of research.
This accounts for the use of a whole series of the modern
technical methods, particularly computer and laser techniques.
Many workers in parapsychology regard the paranormal
phenomena they are studying as ordinary physical phenomena based
on electromagnetic radiations. They are also of the opinion that
this energy, despite its small quantity, can lend itself to
calculation and measurement. The search for and the measurement
of electromagnetic fields continue. These fields are called by
different names ( "bioplasma, " "electrogram, " "biopotential, " etc.)
and are combined with the different traditional methods of
research (for instance, the guessing of one of five Zener cards,
. hypnosis at a distance, moving objects without contact).
In the framework of parapsychology, fine progress has been
made with instruments (including the most sophisticated devices)
to appraise the functional state of individuals. For instance,
the "Kirlian effect" (photography of live tissues exposed to
high frequency current) was used by parapsychologists before it
was used by physiologists and psychologists. Thus, soms
individual research methods developed in parapsychology sometimes
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turn out to be useful for psychophysiology and experimental
psychology, even if they were not successful in revealing the
nature of parapsychological phenomena.
Non-instrumental methods of parapsychology are also being
perfected. Ten years ago, L. L. Vasiliev wrote about experi-
mente with "free material" in which the subject attempts to
find out something about a given object among a great number of
possible objects, the given object being unknown to him at the
moment of the experiment. Vasiliev (1964: 134-135) wrote:
'The unavoidable shortcoming in such experiments lies in the
fact that their evaluation is subjective but it is hardly possible
to remove this subjectivity." Since that time, a method of
analyzing results with the help of a "jury" was worked out. The
"jury" knows what was"received, " what could have been transferred,
and from what was received, they attempted to find out what was
actually transferred. If this is possible, then the existence
of a channel of communication between the points of transmission
and reception is proven. M. M. Bongard and M. S. Smirnov (1967)
wrote about this and other necessary or useful methods in an
article on the requirements for telepathic experiments.
The Problem of Credulity in Parapeychological Research
The history of parapsychology is a history of the unmask-
ing of fraud in which world-famous scientists such as Dmitri
Mendeleyev, the American physicist, Robert Wood, and others
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occasionally participated.
This naturally has engendered dis-
trust of parapsychologists as well as irritation on the part
of the specialists themselves.
The distrust is increasing be-
cause, all too often, instances of outright mystification and
fraud during demonstrations of parapsychological phenomena are
observable. The second reason for distrust is the fact that
paranormal phenomena cannot be reproduced. Therefore, they do
not meet requirements for scientific acceptance.
The impossibility of reproducing parapsychological
phencwena is explained by pointing to difficulties in setting up
adequate experimenta due primarily to the peculiarity of the
phenomena themselves. Since they arise during special states
and conditions in real life, it is difficult to recreate them in
the laboratory. The phenomena described by parapsychologists
: Are frustratingly unstable; they vanish as soon as external or
internal conditions become unfavorable.
Sore parapsychologists
state that even when favorable conditions are present, it is
still not possible to preserve for long periods of time those
states during which parapsychological phenomena can occur.
This constitutes the main difficulty in interpreting
parapsychological phenomena. Parapsychological literature is
full of excessively sensational descriptions, like those about
Ted Serios (the subject of the American psychiatrist, Jule
Eisenbud) who purportedly visualized and then psychokinetically
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.
There have been cases when professionel stare performers,
particularly magicians, soro invited to take part is paragay-
chological sessions na experts in order to expose tristary.
Apnerally @poaking, therefore, parapsychology itself mas brengt
forth a proat Ducher of methods of critical sopessuant and
procedures which can be utilized in the tsmystification of
those phomoresa. There are aposlalists who have bad groet en-
periones is that field in the Soviet Vaisa. Estevor, De
douenstrations of frend ona ingleseco convineod proponsats of
the validity of dubious phenomena.
As with religion, Do with
the paranormal, "faith" to mero important than the facts. The
aggressive urgo to propagandize paranormal padnonons as well sa
a tondossy, toward connationalism and fraude of every kind are
linked precisely to that "faith."
It is fitting to quote C. B. B. Mansol (1900) sutter of
an important critical book on parapsychology published in 1870
in the U.B.B.R.
Marmel (1070:295) Croco
"One canane categori-
eally claim that the moules of theno emporiasato are amlalsod
by fraud, but also one cannot believe that thay effor fimal prost
of extremensery portopsico."
Obviously come so-called parapsychological por
actually do kappoa.
of their existence in aute fact that the starnal for trancad stieg
information of indleonesa 1o
At the process tica.
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electromagnetic field of organisms as a biological link or
carrier of information. The research is being conducted on
insects, animals, and humans, but many of the researchers do not
connect their work to parapsychology, at least not overtly. The
physical basis for these phenomena still remains to be discovered.
Many parapsychologists hold that the physical basis for
the phenomena eludes study because serious science stands alouf
from parapsychological research. However, it seems to us that
a great deal of the blame should be assumed by the parapsycholo-
gists themselves for engaging in many activities which set them
apart from serious science.
Some Results
In the field of parapsychology, one must differentiate
between imagined "supernatural" phenomena touted by mystics and
charlatans on the one hand and phenomena which really exist but
have not yet been satisfactorily explained scientifically, either
psychologically or physically, on the other. The first require
exposure and demystification. As for the second, it is necessary
to continue their study in psychological, physiological, bio-
physical, medical, and other scientific institutions. However,
the dissemination of the totality of parapsychological ideas in
aspects and forms that often aim principally at publicity play
a negative role, and feed the needs of unstable persons who seek
scientifically inscrutable principles.
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An analysis of the status of parapsychology indicates
that it is polluted with anti-scientific conceptions and, that,
to a great degree it has become a field of activity for would-be
"experts." Some of these "experts" declare themselves to be
leaders of groups and collaborators in organizations which have
never existed in our country. "The Institute of Technical
Parapsychology" is an example of such an organization. It is
necessary to put an end to the activity of poorly qualified but
militant parapsychological "experts" who take upon themselves
the role of voluntary and far from unselfish propagandists and
who issue numerous reports and give lectures on parapsychology
for audiences which even include scientists. These lectures
offer an unscrupulous mish-mash of fantasy and fact.
The non-critical stand toward parapsychology on the part
of some serious scientists can be explained only by a lack of
concern for scientific theory and for a sound philosophy of
science. Thus, there is no need for the existence of para-
. peschology as a special discipline since the only factor that
unites parapsychologists is the mysterious, enigmatic nature
surrounding the phenomena they study. We also hold that the
practice of publishing sensational material on parapsychology
which lacks any scientific basis in newspapers, magazines and
popular books, cannot be tolerated, A tradition which self-
respecting scientists normally follow is for some reason being
broken by many parapsychologists. They need to adhere to the
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practice of sericus scientific achievements being published first
in the specialized literature and only afterwards in popular
editions.
Certainly the time has come to bring order into the
Scientific research and study of the phenomena described in
parapsychology. Much of the research in the field of para-
psychology is being done by physicists and engineers. Therefore,
it would be expedient to assess, at the Institute for Biophysics
of the U.S.S.k. Academy of Sciences and at the Institute for
Problems of Transmitting Information of the U.S. S.R. Academy of
Sciences, the direction and scientific level of the study of
the "bicphysical effect" (dowsing). The electromagnetic fields
generated by living organisms could be likewise assessed as a
possible means of biological information (telepathy), as well
as many other phenomena. If attention is paid to these phenomena
from the point of biophysics and information theory, these
efforts will help to demystify them.
The psychological institutes of the U.S.S.R. Academy of
Sciences and of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Pedagogical Sciences
and other psychological institutions should also give considera-
tion to the possibility of mounting programs for a strictly
scientific research into these phenomena.
Evidently it would
be advisable to organize a laboratory within one of the
psychological institutions which would study persons who really
de possess unusual abilities.
It may be found that many of
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22.
these unusual abilities are not necessarily paranormal in nature.
The results of such research after meticulous verification
should naturally be published first in the scientific literature
and only afterwards in the popular press.
We believe that the attention of serious scientific
organizations toward the phenomena described in parapsychology
could help to discover their true nature as well as to thwart
the charlatans who are taking advantage of an understandably
natural interest on the part of a wide audience. toward many
unresolved mysteries of the human psyche. Such an effort could
also help to discredit the myth about the existence of a major
"parapsychological movement" in the U.S.S.R.
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23,
References
Ashby, R. H. Guidebook for the Study of Psychical Research.
New York: Samuel Weiser's, 1972.
Billig, N. Positive and negative experimental pai results in
psychology and parapsychology.
Journal of the Society
for Psychical Rommarch, 1972, 46:
Hansel, C. E. M. ESP: A Scientific Evaluation. New York:
Scribner's, 1866. Published in the U.S.S.R. under the
title Parapsychology, Moscow: Mir Publishing House, 1970,
. Krippner, S. Paranormal effects in altered states of consciousness:
an experimental approach. In Abstract Guide, Twentieth
International Congress of Psychology (Organizing Committee
of the Twentieth International Congress of Psychology, ed. ).
Tokyo: N. Sasaki, 1972, p. 579.
Ostrander, 8., & Schroeder, L. Psychic Discoveries Behind the
Iron Curtain. Englewood Cliffs, M.J .: Prentice-Fall, 1970.
. Vasiliev, L. L. Mysterious Phenomena of the Human Psyche.
Third edition.
Moscow: Political Literature Publishing
House, 1968.
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