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The journal of Parapsychology
parapsychology in the Ibero-American World 177
of parapsychology, some may see little value in mo bli-
ru ng pu
cations and research in these countries, perhaps becau hey doubt
that the material produced by such researchers wou be of suffi-
cient quality to make an important contribution to e field (Alva-
rado, 1989a).
This lack of attention to information abo Ibero-American
parapsychology ese ts serious problem English-speaking
Z a
Xr n ati(
parapsychologisi wh fte receive invita o to attend parapsy-
chological conferences ome of these cou ies where there are
groups whose commitme o academic pa sychology is doubtful
and whose only purpose in ending thei nvitations is to legitim-
ize local efforts, which are so ,mes ous mix of parapsychol-
s a d
ogy, spiritism, ufology, and soo A r knowledge of parapsy-
chology in these communities cou fa * tate evaluation of the goals
of specific groups who identify elves as parapsychologists.
David Hess (1990) has pointed out following concerning Brazil-
ian parapsychology:
[Since] anything "international" o
JT'first I I
,I", in. Brazil means addi
Xr.h
tional status, the participation Of para gists at Brazilian con-
@ff holo
ferences that represent one gra could me legitimating either Cath-
0 a leg
olic or Spiritist oarapsycholo t the expen f the other group. (p.
f
-_ \n
110)
Although it is true that sjfEh groups exist, it is%nportant to men-
.ot
tion that there are I us groups and rese chers who for
c _X
many years have axZod J rut important work- _i that deserves
ts'
recognition even e language barrier has h ered its re-
e
re
ception in the in@teorungytll parapsychological aren Efforts to
Efforts
f att
bridge this lack of att ion and to increase cooperation 'th Ibero-
n th The
American researcher ill not only help those in the Eng -speak-
her/ Eng _sr
ing countries to bet understand cultural differences an ational
e, and a 0
k \he
styles in research p c ice, but also help the researchers in th ro-
i p ctice !,s in th be
American world t mprove the quality of their work. There ore, I
t mpr, . T re r,
lIowi,
have selected the llowing countries for a general survey of the re-
e. con
search that has en conducted in parts of Ibero-America: Argen-
tina, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
Spain
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 Melapsiquicos, (Fernindez
Briones, 1981b). The research orientation of the Society was to
study spontaneous cases and psychics, such as the famous Joaqufn
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 Sdnchez Herrero, the Marquiz of Santa Clara, J. Palm6s, and M.
Otero y Acevedo, researchers whose independent efforts contrib-
uted to a 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 Espaftola de Parapsicologfa (Ferndndez 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 established' 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 (Jorddn Pefia, 1983).
One of the most interesting investigations has been conducted by
members of the research committee headed by Francisco Gavilin
There has never been a serious attempt to organize +the history
of psychical research in Spain, and information is scarce on early Fontanet (1976). In this study, the committee investigated identical
attempts to study psychic phenomena seriously. It was not until the
1920s that the Sociedad Espaf 'The goal of the committee is to investigate UFOs, cryptozoology, religious ap.
iola d&Estudios c
P-Provea e a paritions, and other phenomena sLientifically.
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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 @dso 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 Gavildn 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. Tam 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 7 1% 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 Ferndndez Briones. The Committee's purpose was to outline
'The languages were English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
4A 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. Fernindez Briones summarized
the findings in his book entitled Desarrollo de la Percepci6n Extrasen-
sorial [The Development of Extrasensory Perception) (1983). Among
the technic#les 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 by Charles Tart (1966). Although the results have- only been
suggestive, Ferndndez 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 UordAn Pefia, 1980)"; 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 Uim6nez Vi-
sedo, 1985); considered the psychophysiological correlates of hyp-
nosis and its implications for parapsychology (Gonzdlez 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, Gonzilez Ordi, & Berrocal Muela, 1984); and offered theoreti-
cal models to explain firewalking (Perera, '9891
In the educational area, even though efforts have been made to
include parapsychology in the curriculum of universities in Spain,
-'Jordin Pefia published a book called Casas Encantadas, Poltergeisis [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).
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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 Comunicaci6n, 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, theirjournal 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 Ferndndez
Briones (1983). Other books include an anthology, entitled La Nueva
Parapsicologia: Introducci6n a la Parapsicolog-fa CientVica [The New
Parapsychology: An Introduction to Scientific Parapsychology] ed-
ited by Fernindez Briones (1981a), a valuable introduction to the
field, and Mario Capel's La Supervivencia Desput's de la Muerte: Evi-
dencia Espontdnea 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 lbero-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.
Nia
mediumship p
shi pp
individuals. Mo
s. M
the Afro-Brazilia
Silva cofounded e Latin American Center of
Parapsychol CLAP, of the Anc eta College of Sdo Paulo in
1970.
razil The C ter, which was closed do in 1982 and reopened in
raz"
1989 un reduced circumstances, use to offer clinical counseling
for e suffering from psychologi problems related to reli-
a a ho -@Can
90 P r psyc logl 0
At the 1990 Parapsychologic on convention, David gious periences; and practices (e.f., monic possession). The
Hess, who has made several to study Brazilian parapsy-
5 made sever to stud y Cent still has an impressive library of ks on parapsychology,
chology, presented a t) hic scribed Brazilian para-
p h h cril
w whi used to be housed in huge facilities at also accommodated
s.
psychology in the f ng term
a xperimental and clinical laboratory an a museum of objects
r.". v
Brazil does ave a coherent community of academic parapsycholo-
6 One of the biggest parapsychology libraries in Latin America with approximately
gists, and there are few if any people in Brazil who research and publish 10W, 0 volumes.
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Parapsychology in the Ibero-American World 181
at the standards of the Parapsychological Association. Instead, what is
called "parapsychology" in Brazil is laq, defined by rival groups of
az
is
a
r
9
g
Catholic and Spiritist (Kardecist) intellectua (Hess, 1990)
s
t
n
t
e
I
e
c
t
u
a
er
st
a
n
I
i
0
n
B
r
To erstand parapsychology in Bra , we need to be familiar
a
y
g
t
ur
a
with the tural milieu from which it h volved, one that is dom-
hi
c
h
t
h
,e
inated by ro-Brazilian cults d Ca licism. On the one hand,
and
C
a
11
y ro
c
we have th piritist tradition ance from France through the
th pil
t ha t
tha
t
c
fr
e
gs of Ilal
Itis e e
rtsI
teachings of Ilan Kardec; Spiritists ieve that spiritual progress is
effect
by a ri
so ca
ed by a ries of compulsory carnations. They believe that
tun/
les opportuniti
communicate with deceased
from th&African
(Bastide, 1971; G
This
to
tom
tl0cI
ver, Spiritism * strongly influenced in Brazil by
in strongly
Is mbanda a
cults such as mbanda and Candomble derived
tto Brazil
@igions brou t to Brazil through the slave trade
AVr, 1985).
@SOritil eliefs and Afro-Brazilian religions
_ilian society (Hess, 1987), creating a
mixcVn
.Izi
'cr@B
A h
wich Brazilian brands of parapsy-
are many interesting combinations of
S tism and all sorts of Brazilian religious
esseniia cept possession, the influence of spirits
individua'S 11 as the belief that divinities can pos-
e healing (Parra Alvarez, 1981).
th
, ere the Catholic tradition that has de-
ises pa sychology as an ideology with which
y destroy the movements the church sees as
mits to the tablished Catholic dogmas (Hess,
a:; been dev ped mainly through the work of
rifluential and ected "parapsychologists" in
sp
athcr Oscar Go Alez Quevedo, a Spanish-born
spectrum ol
has crept in and
variety of belief syste
chology have evolved.
the Kardecist type of
movements that
of deceased
sess individuals and a
On the ot a
r h
veloped a sys;
th
to fight and e n u
t
superstition an
1990). This syste
one of the mos
Ibero.-America
'g
Jesuit priest Ii
in Brazil. Padre uevedo (as he is known) and
Luis Ferrei a
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