PARAPSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL, 02436. CASSOLI, PIERO. THE HEALER: PROBLEMS, METHODS AND RESULTS.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00792R000700710003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 1, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 1, 1987
• Content Type: LIST

Approved For Release 2001/03t07~~~CtA-
tuition were more common in the German collection. (2)
There were differences in the proportions of trivial and
positive cases reported. (3) There was a difference in the
number of females involved attributable to the manner in
which the cases were collected. All the remaining analyses
previously reported in connection with the British cases
were confirmed in the German collection. - DA/R.A.W.
02435. Blackmore, Susan. Errors and confusions in
ESP. European Journal of Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov),
4(1), 49-70. 28 refs; 8 tables
If ESP is related to more familiar cognitive processes,
the errors or confusions made between targets should show
consistencies. For example, they may resemble those made
in perception or memory. If so this could throw light on
theories relating ESP and memory. Previous studies of er-
rors in ESP are considered and four experiments are
reported. Two used special picture targets between which
confusions of either association or visual similarity could
be made. The first produced more confusions between as-
sociated pictures but the method proved to be flawed. A
second study using a different design-showed no significant
differences. In a third a comparison of the two designs was
made but no difference was found. None of the three ex-
periments provided significant extrachance scoring. A final
experiment used words as targets, related to each other by
either visual similarity or by meaning. Again, no sig-
nificant oyerall scoring was obtained. Although there were
significantly more visual confusions than direct hits, this
unexpected finding must be considered in the context of
the nonsignificant ones. The conclusion reached was that
chance best accounts for the results. From these results it
was not possible to determine whether visual or associative
confusions would predominate. - DA
02436. Cassoli, Piero. The healer: Problems, methods
and results. European Journal of Parapsychology, 1981
(Nov), 4(1), 71-80.
The author defines five problem areas in the study
of psychic healers. In this article he concentrates on only
one: Can the healer interfere in a positive sense on the
course of illness and particularly on factors determining it?
If so, does the healer act in connection with only some
illnesses? In particular, does he or she act only in connec-
tion with psychosomatic illness? The author discusses the
problems involved in research in healing and offers three
models to explain psychic healing: the physical, the
psychological, and the parapsychological. - R.A.W.
02437. Ejvegaard, Rolf, and Johnson, Martin. Mur-
derous ESP -- A case of story fabrication. European
Journal of Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov), 4(1), 81-98. 13 refs
The bulk of information directed at the public as
regards suggestive paranormal cases most probably comes
through the mass media. Under favorable conditions, when
the information has been carefully researched, it could be
of considerable value not only to the seriously interested
layman but to the professional parapsychologist Regret-
fully, stories implying paranormal events are usually
reported for the sake of sensationalism. Not rarely some
etories may be an act of intentional fabrication.
In this paper a case of a suggestive apparition of the
dead that was published in a Swedish magazine in 1978 is
described. The interesting results of our follow-up and test-
ing of the reliability of this story as to its paranormality
are presented. The author of the article gave specific
letails and assured in other ways, for instance, by name-
living of reliable witnesses, that it was a true story. If this
?eally was the case it would suffice as a comparatively
well-documented case of the apparition of the dead or
dying person. As we discovered, it was not only impossible
but also irrelevant whether the case was considered an ap-
parition of the dead or regarded as an out-of-body ex-
perience. Although the basis of this story - a murder
case - actually occurred, the supposed paranormal elements
were a fabrication added later. Parapsychologists should be
mindful of the possibility of fabricated ESP stories in
magazines and newspapers. - R.A.WJDT
02438. Martnez-Taboas, Alfonso, and Alvarado, Carlos
S. Poltergeist agents: A review of recent research
trends and conceptualization. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov), 4(1), 99-110. 38 refs
Histiorical surveys of poltergeist phenomena do not
leave any possible doubt on the curious fact that in a sub-
stantial number of rases the phenomena are associated, spa-
tially and temporally, with some specific person. What is
more problematic is the reason for that association.
Demonologists such as Guazzo were inclined to the view
that the manifestations were diabolic phenomena caused by
a witch. Writers with a survivalistic inclination see intents
of a disc!arnate agent to communicate with some person.
With the. advent of dynamic psychiatry others see the ex-
pression of repressed tension and anger.
Our purpose is this paper is to evaluate all published
studies from 1973 to 1979 whose authors made a judgment
or clinical study of the poltergeist agent as it relates to
the etiology of the manifestations. Besides the analysis and
discussions of these recent cases, we will also present a
criticism of a recent theory of poltergeist phenomena: the
central nervous system (CNS) or epileptic theory proposed
by Roll. - DT/ R.A.W.
II. PARAPSYCHOLOGY JOURNALS
(NON-ENGLISH)
DUTCH LANGUAGE
(Editors: Daniel Dumalin and George Zorab)
PSI-FORUM
02439. Gondry, Dirk. The other Houdini. Psi-Forum,
1984, 1(1), 10-16. 2 illus
The author describes the second career of the famous
"King of Handcuffs," Harry Houdini. He became inter-
ested in magic through a book which revealed a few tricks
used by fraudulent mediums. At first he used the book as
a guide to perform seances himself. He quit this practice
for moral reasons and developed his career as the King of
Handcuffs. Later he used the same book to expose the
practices of fraudulent mediums. It is from this that the
author makes a link with parapsychology. He states that it
is impossible to do psi research without knowledge of
magic and illusion. This is illustrated by the unfruitful at-
tempts of a logic professor and his students to discover the
technique used by Houdini in his famous escape from a
postal sack. - D.D.
.02440. Hoebens, Piet Hein. A meeting of skeptics.
Psi-Forum, 1984, 1(1), 17-20. 4 refs
The author describes the evolution of CSICOP. Al-
though in 1976 the Committee stated its aim of promoting
critical investigations of the paranormal and fringe scien-
tific claims from an objective viewpoint, its activities soon
became infested by radicals. CSICOP became the new in-
quis
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Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700710003-0
 Approved For Release 2001/03t07~~~CtA-
tuition were more common in the German collection. (2)
There were differences in the proportions of trivial and
positive cases reported. (3) There was a difference in the
number of females involved attributable to the manner in
which the cases were collected. All the remaining analyses
previously reported in connection with the British cases
were confirmed in the German collection. - DA/R.A.W.
02435. Blackmore, Susan. Errors and confusions in
ESP. European Journal of Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov),
4(1), 49-70. 28 refs; 8 tables
If ESP is related to more familiar cognitive processes,
the errors or confusions made between targets should show
consistencies. For example, they may resemble those made
in perception or memory. If so this could throw light on
theories relating ESP and memory. Previous studies of er-
rors in ESP are considered and four experiments are
reported. Two used special picture targets between which
confusions of either association or visual similarity could
be made. The first produced more confusions between as-
sociated pictures but the method proved to be flawed. A
second study using a different design-showed no significant
differences. In a third a comparison of the two designs was
made but no difference was found. None of the three ex-
periments provided significant extrachance scoring. A final
experiment used words as targets, related to each other by
either visual similarity or by meaning. Again, no sig-
nificant oyerall scoring was obtained. Although there were
significantly more visual confusions than direct hits, this
unexpected finding must be considered in the context of
the nonsignificant ones. The conclusion reached was that
chance best accounts for the results. From these results it
was not possible to determine whether visual or associative
confusions would predominate. - DA
02436. Cassoli, Piero. The healer: Problems, methods
and results. European Journal of Parapsychology, 1981
(Nov), 4(1), 71-80.
The author defines five problem areas in the study
of psychic healers. In this article he concentrates on only
one: Can the healer interfere in a positive sense on the
course of illness and particularly on factors determining it?
If so, does the healer act in connection with only some
illnesses? In particular, does he or she act only in connec-
tion with psychosomatic illness? The author discusses the
problems involved in research in healing and offers three
models to explain psychic healing: the physical, the
psychological, and the parapsychological. - R.A.W.
02437. Ejvegaard, Rolf, and Johnson, Martin. Mur-
derous ESP -- A case of story fabrication. European
Journal of Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov), 4(1), 81-98. 13 refs
The bulk of information directed at the public as
regards suggestive paranormal cases most probably comes
through the mass media. Under favorable conditions, when
the information has been carefully researched, it could be
of considerable value not only to the seriously interested
layman but to the professional parapsychologist Regret-
fully, stories implying paranormal events are usually
reported for the sake of sensationalism. Not rarely some
etories may be an act of intentional fabrication.
In this paper a case of a suggestive apparition of the
dead that was published in a Swedish magazine in 1978 is
described. The interesting results of our follow-up and test-
ing of the reliability of this story as to its paranormality
are presented. The author of the article gave specific
letails and assured in other ways, for instance, by name-
living of reliable witnesses, that it was a true story. If this
?eally was the case it would suffice as a comparatively
well-documented case of the apparition of the dead or
dying person. As we discovered, it was not only impossible
but also irrelevant whether the case was considered an ap-
parition of the dead or regarded as an out-of-body ex-
perience. Although the basis of this story - a murder
case - actually occurred, the supposed paranormal elements
were a fabrication added later. Parapsychologists should be
mindful of the possibility of fabricated ESP stories in
magazines and newspapers. - R.A.WJDT
02438. Martnez-Taboas, Alfonso, and Alvarado, Carlos
S. Poltergeist agents: A review of recent research
trends and conceptualization. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 1981 (Nov), 4(1), 99-110. 38 refs
Histiorical surveys of poltergeist phenomena do not
leave any possible doubt on the curious fact that in a sub-
stantial number of rases the phenomena are associated, spa-
tially and temporally, with some specific person. What is
more problematic is the reason for that association.
Demonologists such as Guazzo were inclined to the view
that the manifestations were diabolic phenomena caused by
a witch. Writers with a survivalistic inclination see intents
of a disc!arnate agent to communicate with some person.
With the. advent of dynamic psychiatry others see the ex-
pression of repressed tension and anger.
Our purpose is this paper is to evaluate all published
studies from 1973 to 1979 whose authors made a judgment
or clinical study of the poltergeist agent as it relates to
the etiology of the manifestations. Besides the analysis and
discussions of these recent cases, we will also present a
criticism of a recent theory of poltergeist phenomena: the
central nervous system (CNS) or epileptic theory proposed
by Roll. - DT/ R.A.W.
II. PARAPSYCHOLOGY JOURNALS
(NON-ENGLISH)
DUTCH LANGUAGE
(Editors: Daniel Dumalin and George Zorab)
PSI-FORUM
02439. Gondry, Dirk. The other Houdini. Psi-Forum,
1984, 1(1), 10-16. 2 illus
The author describes the second career of the famous
"King of Handcuffs," Harry Houdini. He became inter-
ested in magic through a book which revealed a few tricks
used by fraudulent mediums. At first he used the book as
a guide to perform seances himself. He quit this practice
for moral reasons and developed his career as the King of
Handcuffs. Later he used the same book to expose the
practices of fraudulent mediums. It is from this that the
author makes a link with parapsychology. He states that it
is impossible to do psi research without knowledge of
magic and illusion. This is illustrated by the unfruitful at-
tempts of a logic professor and his students to discover the
technique used by Houdini in his famous escape from a
postal sack. - D.D.
.02440. Hoebens, Piet Hein. A meeting of skeptics.
Psi-Forum, 1984, 1(1), 17-20. 4 refs
The author describes the evolution of CSICOP. Al-
though in 1976 the Committee stated its aim of promoting
critical investigations of the paranormal and fringe scien-
tific claims from an objective viewpoint, its activities soon
became infested by radicals. CSICOP became the new in-
quis
par:
owr
pro:
sior
psy'
oth,
que
ma
the
too
see
fro
at
psy
D.l
024
go
of
sio
this
ps7
stil
art
ref
on,
02?
Fc
fra
vie
rer
Ra
thi
av~
sta
to
cli
in,
be
me
02
Fe
Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700710003-0