PROPOSAL FOR A ONE-YEAR RESEARCH STUDY TO DETERMINE THE ROLE, IF ANY, OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM PSYCHICS IN FULFILLING CIA S MISSIONS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
13
Document Creation Date: 
November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 4, 1998
Sequence Number: 
21
Case Number: 
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7.pdf372.4 KB
Body: 
Approved For-Re,, psse 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0Q&00020021-7 TO Center for the Study of Intelligence Office of Training VIA DDO DDS &T SUBJECT Proposal For a One-Year Research Study. to Determine the Role, If Any, Of Information Obtained From Psychics In Fulfilling CIA's Missions 1. It is proposed that a one-year study be conducted by the undersigned, under the auspices of the Center for the Study of Intelligence, into the possible use of psychically derived information in the fulfillment of intelligence and operational missions of the CIA. 2. Research will center on two main aspects: A. The documentation of the use of psychics by U.S. police forces and possibly other U.S. Government Agencies in the investigation of crimes, related police work, and other missions; and' B. An attempt to work in direct contact with psychics, and to work with information from psychics not directly contacted, to determine the problems and ramifications of psychically derived information as a tool in the fulfillment of CIA's intelligence Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Ruse 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROQ 200020021-7 collection and analysis and operational missions. 3. The benefits of such a study are: A. The identification and description of a new tool which CIA may be able to put to use to fulfill its missions, and a proposal of its practical applications. B. An understanding of how, to what extent, and with what success and problems, the Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc countries have-employed this tool. C. A greater understanding of a force and phenomenon which may have far-reaching benefits for mankind. D. An ability to help the U.S. guide itself through such turmo~ils as may manifest in an approaching period of significant change for the world and unrest for its peoples predicted by current and past psychic literature. 4. The proposed methodology for conducting such a study is: A. To devise means of discovering and making contact with those organizations (police forces, the FBI, and possibly other U.S. Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96.00787R000200020021-7 Approved For R se 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787R0W200020021-7 government agencies) which have used-psychics in criminal investigations, locating missing persons, or other governmental work. This would involve a literature search, contacting psychic groups etc. B. To contact and interview police force personnel and other pertinent sources about their use of psychics to determine their mode of operation and results. C. To contact known cooperative psychics (those named by the police departments, or others identified by means which will have, 'to be devised) and seek their cooperation in a research program. CIA-management must, at the outset of this study, address and answer the following questions having policy, security, and ethical ramifications: A.- What will be the effect upon CIA's image if it is learned by officers of U.S. police departments, and other government agencies, members of various groups and private individuals. throughout the U.S. currently engaged in psychic research, and Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For RV se 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0QW00020021-7 various psychics throughout the U. S. that CIA is doing research in the psychic field and is exploring practical ways of gathering and using psychic information to fulfill CIA responsibilities? If management determines such an effect to be detrimental; the researchers should be directed to devise acceptable cover mechanisms. If the effects are considered to be minimal and acceptable, research can proceed directly, although discreetly, and without subterfuge. .B. What ethical and moral guidelines must be established to ensure the proper use of the psychic force, to protect human rights, and to prevent spiritual and psychological detriment to the participants and users? 6. Attached is a more detailed description of what questions need to be addressed in such an investigation. Approved For Release 2003/09110 : CIA-RDP96-0;0787R000201D020021-7f Approved For Rej se 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787ROW00020021-7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS AND QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED IN A PROPOSED RESEARCH STUDY. .'11) DETERMINE THE ROLE OF PSYCHICALLY DERIVED INFORMATION IN FULFILLING CIA'S MISSIONS I. /ow have other U.S. government agencies obtained and used psychically derived information in support of their operations and information gathering responsibilities? A. In particular, what lessons pertinent to CIA operations have been learned by police forces in working with psychics in support of police investigations? (1) Where, besides in the states of California and Nebraska, and the cities of Dallas, Helena, Little Rock, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and St. Louis, have psychics been used by police departments in support of police investigations? (The information indicating that psychics have been used by police departments in the above locations was obtained from Predictions For 1976, a paper back book compiled and edited by Warren Smith and publ:ishe& by Award Books of New York City. (2) How have psychics been identified? How have they been contacted and approached for their cooperation? What kind of security and financial arrangements have been made? Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-QO787R000200020021-7 Approved For Ruse 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROQK00020021-7 (3) What criteria have been used in determining on what cases psychic assistance will be sought? (4) What'types of information have been obtained? How specific and pertinent to the case under investigation has psychically derived information been? How have police made use of the infor- mation in their investigation? Have police departments assigned a percentage of success to working with psychics, and if so, what methodology was used? (5) Have psychics working with police observed confidentiality of information and of the investigation? (6) How have individual police officers reacted to using psychically derived information in their investigations? What has been the reaction of the leadership levels within police departments? (7) Have there been any known miscarriages of justice through use of psychically derived information? Are there any Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Ruse 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787R0W200020021-7 known instances of misuse of psychic talents in police-psychic cooperative efforts? - (8) What has been public and news media reaction to knowledge of use by police forces of psychically derived information? Have any legal, public relations, or other problems been encountered in using psychically derived information? B. Have other U.S. government agencies used psychics in the fulfillment of their missions? (1) What agencies, under what circumstances, and with (2) What lessons pertinent to CIA's responsibilities can be learned from the experiences of these organizations? Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96.-00787R000200Q20021-7 Approved For Rese 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787R0Q0020021-7 II. How should psychically derived information of future trends and events, unknown current information, and guidance on courses of action, be obtained, handled and used in support of CIA's operations., information-gathering and analysis responsibilities? A. In general terms, what should be the methodology for obtaining and reporting psychic information pertaining to CIA responsibilities? (1) Within what framework, and under what circumstances, cover, agreements, payments, etc., should psychic information concerning future events be sought? (2)? How should psychics be identified and a cooperative relationship be established? Are there psychics currently within CIA ranks? Can psychic skills be developed by training? (3) How should psychics be rated for accuracy? What criteria should be used to assign percentage correct scores to an individual psychic's predictions? (4) What kind of time frame should be allowed for any Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Ruse 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R0Q200020021-7 given prediction of a spe.c.ific event or trend? Should a special weighting be given to a prediction of a specific future event or trend if predicted independently by two or more psychics ? What are the problems of measuring a psychic's. predictions against actual historical events? (5) What format(s) would be suitable for reporting psychically derived information about future trends or events? (6) 'What audience should be the recipient of psychically derived information about future trends or events? Within the Agency? Outside the Agency? (7) How responsive are psychics in general to requirements for specific information? To requirements for highly detailed I. information? To requests for clarification? Can psychics be debriefed in depth? (8) What clearance criteria will be acceptable to the Office of Security in contacting and working with psychics? Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Re else 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787R0g00020021-7 What criteria should govern, the use of classified information in working with psychics? What are the characteristics of psychically derived information? How does each characteristic affect the use of the information in understanding and analyzing current and future events? (1) Psychically derived information usually has only a general or vague time'frame to which it is ascribed. What is the reason for this? How does, or should, this characteristic affect the use of the information? (2) When addressing future events (as opposed to past unknown events such as the location of a missing person), psychics speak in terms of what "may" happen, not in terms of what inevitably "will" happen. What is the reason for this? How does, or should, this characteristic affect the use of the information? III. What is the current status of Soviet efforts to use psychically derived information in the furtherance of Soviet State goals? Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Re4pse 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROW00020021-7 A. How do Soviet non-intelligence government agencies use psychically derived information in support of Soviet governmental goals? (1) The researchers should perform a literature search to determine the Soviet Union's present and past use of psychically derived information. The book Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain, by Shiela Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder, published by Bantam books by arrangement with Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, can be used as a starting point in this search. (2) The researchers should seek out and interview knowledgable CIA officers who have served in the USSR or who have have worked with Soviets. B. How do Soviet intelligence agencies use psychics and psychically derived information in support of Soviet intelligence gathering and analysis responsibilities and operational objectives? (7) No known studies exist on this question, but it is hoped that interviews with CIA officers who have served in the Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For Reese 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787ROW00020021-7 USSR or worked with Soviets may be productive. C. The researchers should identify possible ways in which U.S. intelligence orgainzations might benefit from Soviet attitudes toward psychically derived information. IV. What are the ethical ramifications of obtaining information by psychic means for use in pursuit of U.S. government goals and in t'he fulfillment of CIA missions? A. Discussion: Many psychics have said thatpsychic force is neutral, in the sense that things are neither good nor bad per se, but can be put to.a positive or negative use. For example, gasoline is a neutral energy force but can be used positively to power an engine or negatively to build a fire bomb. The purpose in calling SG1 A Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7 Approved For ReIse 2003/09/10: CIA-RDP96-00787R0J00020021-7 upon psychic force iS therefore of great importance in judging the moral and ethical quality of the request. Negative uses of psychic information may cause spiritual and psychological detriment,. while positive uses may promote spiritual growth and psychological balance. B. What are the ethical considerations in seeking information from psychics for use in support of CIA operations and CIA intelligence and analysis responsibilities,' and in support of decision-making by U.S. -government officials -relying on CIA information? Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000200020021-7