tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post2850259657136191503..comments2023-08-15T01:24:39.187-03:00Comments on The Other Side of Truth: Top 10 Myths of Popular PsychologyPaul Kimballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08804735930733797952noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-82378129367524295352010-09-03T09:46:37.430-03:002010-09-03T09:46:37.430-03:00Anonymous,
That is a complete misrepresentation o...Anonymous,<br /><br />That is a complete misrepresentation of Loftus' work, and the broader point. See: http://www.slate.com/id/2256089/<br /><br />Also, see Coan's review of the experiement, and his subsequent work in this area, and why he <i>didn't</i> leave "the study" as you put it for the reasons you suggest: http://indorgs.virginia.edu/affectiveneuroscience/papers/Coan,%201997.pdf<br /><br />Coan writes:<br /><br /><i>I hope to have made the following points. First, the project I did with my brother, the "Chris study," was simply an extra credit project, and wasn't originally intended to be much more than that. Second, the subsequent formal study based on what I did with my brother was vastly superior to the original project, and, according the University of Washington's HSC was entirely ethical and scientific. Third, despite this, I was subjected to insults and hostility from people ranging from guidance counselors, to students, to therapists, to supervisors, and to professors, all<br />because of the study's possible implications. Some claimed to be offended by the original project with Chris, some found the ethics of the formal study questionable,<br />some felt that Dr. Loftus was unjustified in making as much of the Chris study as she had, and others offered no explanations for their rage at all. Whatever the<br />motivations, it is unfortunate that so many felt compelled to behave as they did. Sadly, their rage seemed to betray an answer to the question I'd asked my guidance<br />counselor-whether it would be important to know that a complex, autobiographical memory could be implanted. That answer seems to have been an angry and resounding "no." It is as if they were saying that information that contradicts one's beliefs is not worth knowing. In my opinion, that position is immoral and unethical.</i><br /><br />If you're going to come here and leave comments, make sure you have your facts straight.Paul Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08804735930733797952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-66556856191742757702010-09-03T07:40:45.823-03:002010-09-03T07:40:45.823-03:00The question of what characterizes the hypnotic st...The question of what characterizes the hypnotic state is interesting.<br /><br />I am aware that some researchers beleve that there is no such thing as a hypnotic state, and that perhaps it is simply a "role" that a hypnotized person takes on.<br /><br />However, I think the fact that people can undergo major surgery without medical anesthesia, and feel no pain, is an indicator that the hypnotic state is not simply a "role", but that it is a different mental state from normal consciosness.<br /><br />I was hypnotized over an extended period of time for "memory" retrieval for anomalous experiences. While I think that the "memories" that I retrieved are probably mostly false memories, I was able to check the accuracy of some of the memories of normal events that I retrieved, and they tunred out to be accurate. So it seems as though hypnosis did increase my ability to remember beyond what I was able to in my normal consciousness.<br /><br />I was told to expect that the hypnotic state would feel like deep relaxation, and at first it did feel like that. However, when I went deeper into the trance, I underwent a substantial shift in consciousness, and I was aware that it was different to just being in a relaxed state.<br /><br />At some stage during the hypnosis, I was given post-hypnotic suggestions not to remember the content of my hypnosis sessions. I subsequently forgot large sections of them, including things that I would never normally forget. I only realized this when I listened to the recordings of the hypnosis sessions years later.<br /><br />My experience of intensive hypnosis for "memory" retrieval has taught me to have a healthy respect for the power of hypnosis on people, like myself who are susceptible to it. I still do not understand how the state works, but I do think that it is different from normal consciousness, even if researchers at this time have not yet discovered exactly what that state entails.Emma@ufoalienabductee.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076721533781402095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-33976013358044644082010-09-03T00:21:30.906-03:002010-09-03T00:21:30.906-03:00Is #4 a test to see if we're paying attention?...Is #4 a test to see if we're paying attention? Loftus didn’t create a false memory, she gave her students an extra credit assignment—figure out a way to plant a false memory of getting lost. James Coan came up with a plan. Yes, he made Chris write about it. And told his younger brother the man who found him wore a plaid shirt. Chris said it was blue and said he was scared. James got his extra credit points. But he couldn’t get the first six subjects of the formal study to say they got lost. He left the study.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-69595998988490497382010-09-02T15:58:03.852-03:002010-09-02T15:58:03.852-03:00Paul, please keep it up. What the paranormal field...Paul, please keep it up. What the paranormal field needs desperately is objective and rational investigation and discussion. You're beginning to seem like one of the very few voices of reason left in all the shouting from true believers and scam artists. <br /><br />I've stopped reading so many blogs by people I once thought had a logical approach to paranormal phenomena, but who now seem to have gone over to the "dark side".<br /><br />Your blog is among the dwindling few I still visit because of your objectivity.purrlgurrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519835482606629362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-9768937105580753352010-09-02T15:26:29.036-03:002010-09-02T15:26:29.036-03:00Hi Lance,
While I am sure we will continue to dis...Hi Lance,<br /><br />While I am sure we will continue to disagree about certain things, I can only say that your comment above just about completely sums things up for me. Frankly, I'm tired of slogging through the dumbed-down, relativistic world of paranormal "research" - which is an entirely different thing than saying that I have no interest in paranormal research anymore. Indeed, the recent decline in The Paracast has sharpened my interest in paranormal investigation and research, when done properly, by people who have the training, experience and intellectual wherewithal to keep up.<br /><br />It's not about putting the hucksters, frauds and charlatans down, however - they're quite capable of doing that for themselves, and in the end they don't matter. It's about reclaiming the study of allegedly paranormal phenomena for rational, skeptical and intelligent people who are interested in finding answers, whatever they may be, as opposed to perpetuating a belief system.<br /><br />That's what this blog was about when I started it - and that's what it's going to be about once again!<br /><br />You're always welcome here!<br /><br />PaulPaul Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08804735930733797952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10903320.post-91134334491584570372010-09-02T13:13:26.250-03:002010-09-02T13:13:26.250-03:00Wow Paul!
As you might imagine, I am certainly en...Wow Paul!<br /><br />As you might imagine, I am certainly enjoying your blitz of skepticism-oriented posts. <br /><br />I know we approach the topic of the paranormal from very slightly different directions but I always like to hear your thoughts. Did we both become disillusioned about even discussing the stuff at the same time?<br /><br />Like you, I spent a good deal of time discussing various paranormal topics (at the Paracast forums mostly) with believers and others. I tried to make salient points (mixed in with a bit of rhetoric, for sure), thinking that I was speaking with intelligent folks for the most part.<br /><br />Perhaps I saw one too many moon hoax or 9/11 "Truth" thread but I don't think that anymore.<br /><br />This may be my pessimistic nature but I really found the vast majority of the people who were pontificating about these things to be incredibly stupid. Most were unable to form arguments, rebuttals or, in some cases, even sentences.<br /><br />And it was eye opening to see how even the "respected" researchers are, for the most part, little different than the known frauds--perhaps just a little bit more capable of being sure that none of their evidence can be checked.<br /><br />It also didn't help that an incredibly dull and silly host has joined Gene, taking the tone of the show and the forums into a place wholly devoid of reason. <br /><br />So anyway, like you, I am taking a break from actively participating in paranormal discussions. <br /><br />I am enjoying it.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />LanceLancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17280922104955532058noreply@blogger.com