Many people claim that they have been abducted by aliens from outer space. They also claim that aliens have performed surgery or research on them or had sexual intercourse with them. Usually the surgery is said to involve the reproductive organs or the surgical implantation of devices aimed at controlling the "victim." Typically "victims" have no memory of these events until they later seek treatment for physical and psychological problems. During hypnosis or psychological counseling, "victims" "remember" encounters with aliens. Often "victims" are able to produce elaborate, detailed accounts of the alleged events.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs, and the burden of proof is on the claimants. No objective evidence of encounters with space aliens has been found to support the reports of the "victims." No definitively identified tracks, marks, photographs, pieces of equipment or other artifacts of alien origin exist. Objects that "victims" claim to be space alien artifacts have been shown to have ordinary explanations. Recent research shows that people who are led on and suggestively questioned may imagine events that they will swear really happened. Some research subjects persist in believing in the imaginary events even after the deception has been explained to them. Alien abductions and intrusions are such imaginary events. Research psychologists are beginning to understand the development of such false memories, but can only speculate as to why some people develop false memories about space aliens.
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