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STAT
Parapsychology Bullet
Parapsychology Laboratory
Duke University
STAT
NUMBER 57
MAY, 1961
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Parapsychology in Russia
Science in the U.S.S.R. in recent years
has been undergoing reappraisal by the
western world. Another surprise, dealing
not this time with the conquest of outer
space but, rather, with the nature of man
himself will now have to be chalked up to
Soviet science. But, while most astro-
physicists doubtless have anticipated for
some time that Russia would put the first
man into orbit, no western parapsy-
chologist would have anticipated that it
would be a Russian university that would
be the first to establish. a state-supported
research laboratory in the parapsychologi-
cal-fieldir-
Yet this occurred last year at Lenin-
Professor L. L. Vasiliev, Chairman of the
Department of Physiology and a corre-
sponding member of the Academy of
Medical Sciences. The work is being
clone under the heading of "bioelectron-
ics," "cerebral radiocommunication." or,
in free translation, "mental radio."
A popular science magazine published
in Moscow, Znanic-Sila, for December,
1960, reviewed a seminar at Leningrad
University, in which Professor Vasiliev
and his associates (among them Pro-
fessor P. V. Terentiev) presented papers
on Russian research in this field. Profes-
sor Vasiliev worked with the late dis-
tinguished brain physiologist. Professor
V. M. Bekhterev (see Journal of Parapsy-
chology, Sept. 1949, for Bekliterev's ex-
periments on telepathy in dogs) and with
Professor P. P. Lazarev on tests of
thought-transference. Later, in the early
thirties, he and his colleagues conducted
experiments in telepathy with subjects
in the hypnotic state and with subject and
hypnotist located in separate rooms. Suc-
cessful demonstrations of telepathy, in-
cluding the telepathic induction of hyp-
nosis effects were conducted.
Success
continued even when the subjects were
isolated in chambers of lead immersed in
mercury. It was concluded that these
experiments excluded the hypothesis that
the transfer of thought had a basis in
electromagnetic radiation.
The investigators report they were so
profoundly puzzled and amazed by the
results that only last year was it decided
to publish the results and invite scientific
reaction. New experiments based on
modern techniques were then instituted.
The published reactions of representa-
tive Russian scientists to the disclosures of
these findings at the symposium appear to
grad State University, on the initiative of_ be much like those expressed by scientists
in western countries when ESP results
are presented. Some maintain the im-
possibility of such results on the grounds
that there is no acceptable physical theory
that can explain them. Others recognize
that the experiments should continue and
that the facts be accumulated and con-
sidered on their merits. Thus the old
familiar split occurs between those who
do and those who do not require an ac-
ceptable theory before recognizing a new
fact-between the conservatives and the
progressives. It has always been thus
when new findings emerge.
Oddly enough, the Russian article* here
reviewed was triggered as a news item
by a report of an American.experiment. for- .
"which we can find no confirmation. It
-- tras a report in a French magazine of an
ESP test with the subject in a submarine.
The authorities in Washington .. disclaim --
knowledge of any such .. test.
An account of the earlier Leningrad
research mentioned and reports of the new
program of investigation will be awaited
with interest by workers in parapsy-
cuology in other countries.
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*An English translation of this article will appear in the June issue of The Soviet Review (156 Fifth
Ave., New York In, N. Y.).
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Psi Research Perspectives
Parapsychology may one day-far
ahead in time-be one of those pure
sciences which require all their workers to
have a Ph.D. degree; but no basic branch
. of science begins on that level. Those
who want to do research in or contribute
to parapsychology have to begin where
and as they are, and it is interesting to
see what spread and diversification of
training one finds in the field.
Consider mere geography : as we write
these words from the locus of one re-
search center in the field, it so happens
that the staff has membership from each
of the inhabited continents, out-numbering
the few from the U.S.A. itself. It is not,
of course, a simple matter of geography.
Approaches to the field are equally ex-
tended in range. We have just received
for review a book containing a chapter on
experimental parapsychology written by
a Russian scientist for a series on the
advancement of atheism. On the other
hand, a religious approach is represented
in Father R. Omez' book, Psychical Phc-
HOWLONG, a volume in a Catholic encyclo-
paedia (mentioned in our Feb., 1959,
issue).
Among the active workers in this small
research field a wide range of professions
are to be found: engineering, physics,
· psychiatry, zoology, psychology, statistics,
medicine, philosophy, physiology among
others. (Very few as yet are able to say
they are "just parapsychologists.")
The research centers themselves have
some very diverse affiliations. One
parapsychology laboratory in this country
is linked with the college department of
psychology, one with biology, another
with 'biophysics, and still another has no'
departmental affiliation. Plans (though
still largely just plans) for other research
institutes run to even wider variations of
association. The head of a university
department of philosophy in Muslim
Pakistan plans to establish a laboratory
for parapsychology. A priest from Brazil
is hent on a similar objective for a Catho-
lic university in his country. An in-
dustrialist in Calcutta wishes to provide
for a research center to study psi and
yoga. A college in northern Wisconsin
wants to do psi research with an emphasis
on mediumship and seership. Even while
the goals of the research may be shared
by all, these divergent sponsorships mean
something.
Practical objectives, too, have been
adopted by a few research centers: there
is a leaning toward the application of
ESP to crime problems in Utrecht, and
the predicting of lottery numbers as part
of the main research project in Prague.
A Texas financier wants a psi research
laboratory to finance itself through re-
search contracts, which assumes an ap-
plied objective. A Chilean psychiatrist
plans to develop a research program on
psi in his department in the medical
school (again presumably utilitarian).
In view of all these differences, is it
possible to maintain the cohesion and co-
operation requisite to the growth of an
organized profession? Will there be
enough in common, a possible meeting
ground for all these differently oriented
workers? For one thing, it is likely that
the next generation of workers will find
it easier to discover the common ground
that does exist. But already the ac -.
ceptance of certain standards of evidence,
of certain methods and precautionary pro-
cedures, and of some agreement regarding
terminology is bringing common under-
standing and co-operation at an encour-
aging rate. Certainly there is no divisi-
bility in the truth itself; and by expanding
the area that is basically factual and
seeking to extend the mutually accepta-
ble methods and results, the differences
should decline.
Obviously, at this stage, the field must
accept the diversification of its member-
ship because it needs membership. If
there is any one type of professional
background better than another, it is un-
important unless and until there are
enough representatives from whom para-
psychology can choose.
There is another advantage. This very
diversification offers the range of view-
points needed to surmount some of the
mental obstacles and barriers that make
a beginning science difficult.
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Incidental Problems
As we survey the scene in parapsy-
chology three currently distracting prob-
lems are fairly outstanding.
First and perhaps the most conspicuous
of these is the wave of popular exploita-
tion of parapsychological matters. There
were probably never before so many dit-
ferent adaptations of psi and its research
connections through radio, television, and
the printed word; so many types of show
or practice or diversion in which ESP or
some imitation of it played a part.
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What is so bad about this? Some
people who might be serious about the
scientific studies are repelled by the con-
fusing claims of imitators and charlatans
or mere entertainers attempting to deal
with the subject. The time of those
concerned with the research is, to some
extent, wasted in helping to evaluate re-
search claims of some of the bokler
pseudo-investigators. Conservative aca-
demic people are driven farther back from
a fair appraisal of parapsychology by the
extravagant claims of these borderline
workers; and very probably those who
have to make decisions regarding research
funds and government contracts are made
more hesitant and guarded.
·
On the good side, however, is the fact
that the public curiosity behind all this
activity provides a much-needed forum
for the new claims-of the research field.
It is this very open-mindedness of the
popular attitude that insures fair con-
sideration of new discoveries. So we
must be prepared to answer countless
questions about mushrooms, the power of
prayer, the magic of hypnotic regression,
and dozens of other current topics as the
price of keeping this public interest and
by-passing the conservatism from which
these questioners are blessedly free.
A second and more painful trend is
that of internal dissension. Perhaps it is
only one of the growing-pains of para-
psychology. Or, what would be worse,
is it a sign of interrupted growth? At
any rate, there has probably never been
quite so much internal divisiveness in the
research field. It can be said (without
mentioning names) to exist on both sides
of the Atlantic, in more than one lan-
guage, and to wax hot and vigorous.
Worst of all, it involves some of the most
productive workers and important re-
search centers. All this is, of course,
very upsetting. Workers under such
pressures are less than their best creative
selves.
But there is another viewpoint. First
of all, there is in every case at least a
halfway important problem at the root of
the issue. It would be unhealthy, in-
deed, if these problems were to be ignored
merely in the interest of good will. Per-
haps the best feature is the fact that, by
making an issue of them, the attention of
others is brought to the assistance of
those concerned and the likelihood of a
proper solution is thereby increased. And
because each case involves highly intel-
ligent, devoted persons, wisdom is likely
to prevail even though tension has been
created. In every case, new work with a
better method could provide a solution.
The third of these eruptions is another
wave of external criticism. The next
issue of the Journal of Parapsychology
contains a fresh blast of fraud charges,
and word is at hand that a series of
(probably critical ) papers by an American
psychologist is about to appear. Perhaps
few parapsychologists will consider that
more outside criticism is likely to be
useful. Over the years, such criticism
has taken a heavy toll of the man-hour
energies of workers in the field,.prevented
research funds from coming to the aid of
the research, and discouraged many who
might otherwise have joined in the in-
vestigations.
But there is something useful in these
attacks too. They. help to unite us; and,
as stated above, we need this unity in
parapsychology today. They also bring
out rejoinders, and probably many people
besides the critics need to have these
answers spelled out repeatedly. Finally,
such attacks offset the tendency to ignore
the psi investigations and invite more
interest in the issue. So let us have it
out in this way, for lack of a better, so
long as there is any doubt about the case
for psi.
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Events
This year the annual convention of the
Parapsychological Association in New
York will follow immediately upon the
meetings of the American Psychological
Association, and the prospect of exchange
visitors is excellent. There are indica-
tions the A.P.A. will have something
positive from parapsychology on its pro-
gram.
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The North Carolina Psychological
Association, meeting on May 6 at Raleigh
with the State Academy of Science, is
holding a two-hour panel discussion on
the topic "The Credibility of Evidence on
Extrasensory Perception." The three
listed speakers are Dr. J. G. Pratt, Dr.
J. O. Cook (N. C. State College) and Dr.
H. G. MeCurdy (U.N.C.). Dr. Pratt
will review the evidence, Dr. Cook will
criticize it, andl Dr. McCurdy will present
a case for ESP based on personal, non-
statistical evidence. Rebuttals and audi-
ence participation will follow.
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On April 14, in the Ames Hall Court-
room of Harvard University, a "bench"
of three psychologists "held judgment" on
a lecture of ESP by J. B. Rhine. As ar-
ranged by the Harvard Law School
Forum, the "trial" was moderated by
Prof. Jerome S. Bruner, with the panel
consisting of Prof. Edwin G. Boring and
Dr. Timothy Leary (both of Harvard),
and of Dr. Ulric Neisser (of Brandeis).
Judgment : Leary, "yes"; Neisser, "yes --
but"; Boring, "interesting but incon-
clusive."
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Books
University Books (New York) has
brought out as one volume G. N. M.
Tyrrell's Science and Psychical Phe-
nomena and his Apparitions, with a fore-
word by Laura A. Dale.
A book by. Renee Haynes, entitled The
Hidden Springs (Hollis and Carter, Lon-
don), just out in England, deals with psi
abilities and their place in life, religion,
and occult practices, past and present.
An Arabic edition of J. B. Rhine's The
Reach of the Mind, is now in print (Dar
El Kotob El Hadissa, Cairo and Bagh-
dad). The translation was by Dr. M.
Halwagi.
In the September, 1960, issue of the
Anglican periodical, Prism, under the title
Thermodynamics, Psi and God, the paleon-
tologist Dr. R. M. Appleby of the Uni-
versity of Bristol attempted to integrate
the conceptions of the physical universe,
divinity, and psi by the assumption of a
fourth principle (i.e., in addition to mass,
energy, and causality).
Personal Losses
Charles E. Ozanne died on April
5, at the age of 95. With graduate de-
grees from Yale and Harvard, Mr.
Ozanne became a teacher of history and
civics in Central High School of Cleve-
land. His long-standing interest in para-
psychology centered primarily in the proh-
lem of post-mortem survival, a problem
on which he himself made studies and
published two papers. He was for many
years a financial supporter of the Parapsy-
chology Laboratory at Duke. Shortly be-
fore his death he established the Psychical
Research Foundation (announced in the
preceding issue).
Mr. E. Paul Gibson died on March 19,
in Grand Rapids, at the age of 62. Mr.
Gibson was by profession an engineer and
by avocation both an archaeologist and
a parapsychologist. He spent several
years on the research staff of the Para-
psychology Laboratory at Duke during
the late thirties and is the sole or joint
author (among his other contributions)
of eight articles in the Journal of Para-
psychology, containing important experi-
mental results. Both ESP and PK are
represented.
Prof. H. J. F. W. Brugmans, Dutch
psychologist, died on February 21 in
Groningen, at the age of 76. He is
known to parapsychologists as collabora-
tor in a timely and significant experiment
in telepathy conducted under Prof. G.
Heymans in the early twenties.
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The PARAPSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN, issueil quarterly, is sent to all Journal of Parapsychology subscribers.
Others may subscribe for $1 a year Ly applying to the Parapsychology Bulletin, College Station, Durhum,
North Carolina.
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