PARAPSYCHOLOGY IN THE IBERO-AMERICAN WORLD, SPAIN

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Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700900001-1 The Journal of Parapsychology Parapsychology in the Ibero-American World 177 of parapsychology, some may see little value in monitoring publi- cations and research in these countries, perhaps because they doubt that the material produced by such researchers would be of suffi- cient quality to make an important contribution to the field (Alva- rado, 1989a). This lack of attention to informati parapsychology presents a serious pro parapsychologists, who often receive in chological conferences in some of then groups whose commitme and whose only purpose in ize local efforts, which are so ogy, spiritism, ufology, and so chology in these communities co of specific groups who identify David Hess (1990) has pointed ian parapsychology: about Ibero-American in for English-speaking tions to attend parapsy- countries where there are parapsychology is doubtful .heir invitations is to legitim- dubious mix of parapsychol- better knowledge of parapsy- facilitate evaluation of the goals emselves as parapsychologists. following concerning Brazil- [Sincel anything "internatiorio " or "first orld" in Brazil means addi- tional status, the participati of PA pars chologists at Brazilian con- ferences that represent on 'group could m legitimating either Cath- olic or Spiritist parapsyc ogy at the expe a of the other group. (p. 110) Although it is true tion that there are many years have ca recognition even th ception in the int bridge this lack of American researc ing countries to styles in research e English-speak- s in the Ibero- American world to improve the quality of their worTherefore, I have selected the following countries for a general survey of the re- search that has been conducted in parts of Ibero-America: Argen- tina, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Spain There has never been a serious attempt to organize the history of psychical research in Spain, and information is scarce on early attempts to study psychic phenomena seriously. It was not until the 1920s that the Sociedad Espanola de Estudios Metapsiquicos was t such groups exist, serious groups and ed out important work gh the language barrier national parapsychologic tention and to increase coo rs will not only help those in ter understand cultural differ is important to men- work that deserves as hindered its re- arena. Efforts to ration with Ibero- actice, but also help the researc created under the presidency of the Count of Gimeno, member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Medicine. The Society pub- lished a journal called Revista de Estudios Metapsfquicos (Fernandez Briones, 1981b). The research orientation of the Society was to study spontaneous cases and psychics, such as the famous Joaquin Argamasilla (expert in dermo-optical perception) whose abilities Houdini attempted to expose (Houdini, 1924). Most of the work of this society, however, was lost after the Spanish Civil War during a period of isolation in which only a few researchers kept the torch burning. Familiar names from this period are Sanchez Herrero, the Marquiz of Santa Clara, J. Palmds, and M. Otero y Acevedo, researchers whose independent efforts contrib- uted toe new generation of investigators such as Ramos Perera Mo- lina, Francisco Gavilan Fontanet, and Luis Fernandez Briones. This latter group, at the beginning of the 1970s, founded the first well- organized society to investigate psychic phenomena in Spain. It was called the Sociedad Espanola de Parapsicologia (Fernandez Briones, 1981b). From its inception, this Society, under the direction of Ra- mos Perera Molina, had as its main goal to promote the scientific study of parapsychology. To achieve this goal, the Society combined the efforts of experts in experimental design, illusionism, psychol- ogy, medicine, and other fields of science and in 1976 established a research center (De Vicente, 1983). To carry out its research projects, the Society has been divided into several research committees that specialize in different areas embracing field studies as well as experimental projects. Among these committees are those concerned with the development of the- oretical models to enhance ESP, Kirlian photography, experimental research, OBEs, and the medical aspects of psi. More recently, a new committee was established2 to investigate anomalous phenom- ena along the lines of the Society for Scientific Exploration. Members of the Society have carried out original research pro- jects in experimental parapsychology as well as research on sponta- neous cases. They have also critically evaluated miracle claims made by the Catholic church in Spain, such as the liquefaction of the blood of Saint Pantale6n (Jordan Pena, 1983). One of the most interesting investigations has been conducted by members of the research committee headed by Francisco Gavilan Fontanet (1976). In this study, the committee investigated identical 2 The goal of the committee is to investigate UFOs, cryptozoology, religious ap- paritions, and other phenomena scientifically. Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700900001-1 Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700900OQ1;1_ ,__ .L_ TL___ A- W.,,-M The Journal of Parapsychology twin girls presumed to have been born with psi abilities. The case had received extensive coverage by the media in Spain. According to the reports of the case, one of the twin girls had suffered a burn on her hand while ironing. Her sister, separated from her at the time the burning occurred (16 kms away), developed a similar burn on the same hand. The Society sent a team of researchers to carry out a careful investigation of the case. They conducted a series of experiments to determine the possible existence of psi communica- tion between the sisters. One of the experiments consisted of sepa- rating the two girls into two different buildings and stimulating one of them (the sender) with different sensorial inputs (like perfume) while observing physiological reactions, such as pupillary and patel- lar reflexes, in the other twin (the receiver). Psychological profiles of the twins were also obtained from projective tests. The sessions with the two girls were simultaneously filmed to document the stim- uli as well as the perceptual pattern of the reactions. The results showed simultaneous reactions of the twins' reaction time and visual .and olfactory responses. In 1978 the members of the Society conducted another impor- tant study, an international survey of the motivational factors of parapsychological researchers. Headed by Gavilan Fontanet (1978), the main objective of the study was to find out what motivates para- psychologists to investigate psychic phenomena. They surveyed 201 parapsychologists from 18 countries around the world. Among the parapsychologists were J. B. Rhine, S. Krippner, and C. Tart. Three hundred questionnaires, each having 23 questions, were prepared in five different languages' and were mailed to re- searchers throughout the world. Among the interesting findings were that 61% of the respondents were psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical doctors, 45% considered themselves agnostics, 24% got involved in parapsychology while looking for a philosophical answer to the question of the nature of man, 31% got involved for scientific reasons, 51% believed in a transcendent intelligence, 50% believed in some type of survival after death (of these 10% believed in rein- carnation), and 71% rejected astrology. Another research objective of the Society was the search for a theoretical model to enhance psi abilities. For this purpose the So- ciety created the Committee for the Development of ESP4 headed by Luis Fernandez Briones. The Committee's purpose was to outline 'The languages were English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. ' A group that conducts experimental and theoretical research about ESP. a methodological model for the practical development of ESP. Once the model and the techniques were developed, the Society hoped it would be possible to train subjects to obtain positive results over an extended period of time (Fernandez Briones, 1976), thus confront- ing the replicability problem that characterizes most psi research. Although the Committee has not been successful as yet, the results obtained so far are encouraging. Fernandez Briones summarized the findings in his book entitled Desarrollo de la Percepcion Extrasen- sorial [The Development of Extrasensory Perception] (1983). Among the techniques used by the Committee to attain this goal are the inducement of altered states of consciousness and the application of learning theory principles to ESP performance, such as those pro- posed bL Charles Tart (1966). Although the results have only been suggestive, Fernandez Briones was hopeful enough to emphasize the need for more research to test the proposed models sufficiently. Other research conducted by members of the Society includes investigations of poltergeist cases (Jordan Pena, 1980)5; conceptual papers related to the ability of some fish, such as the electric eel and the sturgeon of the Nile, to obtain information about their sur- roundings through electrical communication, which the authors speculated might be a primitive language of telepathy (Bardasano Rubio & Arano Bermejo, 1980a); examination of the migration of carrier pigeons and other animals to develop a model for ESP (Bar- dasano Rubio & Arano Bermejo, 1980b); and studies of the socio- logical and anthropological aspects of psychic surgery (Jimenez Vi- sedo, 1984). Moreover, other members of the Society have: speculated on the pineal gland as a possible somatic organ for ESP reception (Bardasano Rubio et al., 1981); examined neurophysiol- ogy and its importance for parapsychological research (Jimenez Vi- sedo, 1985); considered the psychophysiological correlates of hyp- nosis and its implications for parapsychology (Gonzalez Ordi, 1985); investigated perception of the laying-on of hands by a sensorially isolated subject (Prat et al., 1988); proposed three-dimensional models of RSPK studies, that is, the cases are studied within a para- psychological, psychological, and psychosociological context (De Cas- tro, Gonzalez Ordi, & Berrocal Muela, 1984); and offered theoreti- cal models to explain firewalking (Perera, 1989). In the educational area, even though efforts have been made to include parapsychology in the curriculum of universities in Spain, ' jordan Pena published a book called Casas Encantadas, Poltergeists [Haunted Houses, Poltergeists] (1982), in which he presented an overview of cases and theories of hauntings. For a review of this book, see Alvarado (1985). Approved For Release 2003/09/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700900001-1 I Approved For Release 2003/09/10 OIA-RDP96-00792R000700900001-1 180 The Journal of Parapsychology these have not been successful as yet. Since its inception, however, members of the Society have been very active in organizing numer- ous educational activities and seminars at different universities. The seminar offered by the president of the Society, Ramos Perera Mo- lina, at the Universidad Aut6noma de Madrid in 1975 drew distin- guished and prominent figures such as Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife and the minister of education. Since 1975, the Society has also published a biannual journal, entitled Psi Comunicacion, which includes English abstracts. The journal covers both the activities of the Society and a wide range of topics in parapsychology, some of which have been mentioned. In addition, their journal includes a section for national and interna- tional news on parapsychological activities around the world. Mem- bers of the Society have published several books summarizing its re- search activities. I have already mentioned the books by Fernandez Briones (1983). Other books include an anthology, entitled La Nueva Parapsicologfa: Introducci6n a la Parapsicologfa Cientfca [The New Parapsychology: An Introduction to Scientific Parapsychology] ed- ited by Fernandez Briones (1981a), a valuable introduction to the field, and Mario Capel's La Supervivencia Despuis de la Muerte: Evi- dencia Espont(nea y Experimental [Survival after Death: Spontaneous and Experimental Evidence] (1981) reviewing some of the research and phenomena related to the issue of survival after death. Although parapsychology has been negligible in Spain until re- cent times, it is important to point out that we are now witnessing a boom in parapsychological activities in that country. Unfortunately, even though the Society seems to be the best organized, and to have the most resources in the Ibero-American world, its members have not participated in the broader international parapsychological con- ferences, such as that of the Parapsychological Association, possibly because of the language barrier. In addition, it is unfortunate and disheartening to find that such a large, productive, and well-orga- nized society has no member in the PA. At the 1990 Parapsychologic on convention, David Hess, who has made several to study Brazilian parapsy- chology, presented a p which h scribed Brazilian para- psychology in the f g terms: Brazil does ave a coherent community of academic parapsycholo- gists, and there are few if any people in Brazil who research and publish Parapsychology in the Ibero-American World 181 at the standards of the Parapsychological Association. Instead, what is called "parapsychology" in Brazil is larg defined by rival groups of Catholic and Spiritist (Kardecist) intellectual& (Hess, 1990) To with the inated by we have th erstand parapsychology in Bra tural milieu from which it h ro-Brazilian cults and Ca piritist tradition that c Ilan Kardec; Spiritists teachings of effected by a mediumship individuals. Mo the Afro-Brazilia from the-African (Bastide, 1971; Gie This spectrum o has crept in and mix variety of belief syste chology have evolved. ries of compulsory vides opportuniti over, Spiritism igions brou r, 1985). Spiritis , we need to be familiar F volved, one that is dom- icism. On the one hand, e from France through the eve that spiritual progress is carnations. They believe that to communicate with deceased strongly influenced in Brazil by mbanda and Candomble derived t to Brazil through the slave trade liefs and Afro-Brazilian religions ilian society (Hess, 1987), creating a which Brazilian brands of parapsy- e are many interesting combinations of -tism and all sorts of Brazilian religious the Kardecist type of Sp movements that essenti sess individuals and On the other ha veloped a system th to fight and eventu superstition and 1990). This syste one of the mos Ibero-America Jesuit priest li Luis Ferrei Parapsychol 1970. The 1989 un for peo, gious whi there ept possession, the influence of spirits ll as the belief that divinities can pos- healing (Parra Alvarez, 1981). the Catholic tradition that has de- sychology as an ideology with which y destroy as been dev fluential and tablished Catholic dogmas (Hess, ped mainly through the work of spected "parapsychologists" in alez Quevedo, a Spanish-born ather Oscar Go g in Brazil. Padre Silva cofounded evedo (as he is known) and Latin American Center of eta College of Sao Paulo in ter, which was closed do e suffering from psychologi periences and practices (e.g., still has an impressive library of used to be housed in huge facilities monic possession). The ks on parapsychology, at also accommodated a museum of objects xperimental and clinical laboratory an 6 One of the biggest parapsychology libraries in Latin America with approximately in 1982 and reopened in to offer clinical counseling problems related to reli- Approved For Release 2003/09/10 CIA-RDP96-00792R000700900001-1