Past research has shown that events could be planted in memory even if those events had never occurred. Some have suggested only plausible false events can be planted into memory. Contrary to this belief, Mazzoni et al. (2001) implanted the implausible belief of having witnessed demonic possession at a young age. By increasing plausibility of an implausible event, it seems, autobiographical beliefs for demonic possession were increased.
The current study attempts to plant a false belief or memory about another unlikely event, namely witnessing a UFO or an extraterrestrial. Students at the University of Washington participated in the study. In the experimental group, students read six articles, two of which were designed to increase plausibility of having witnessed a UFO. In the control group, students read four articles, the same four the experimental group read, not including the UFO articles. Before and after reading the articles, two measures were obtained, one on the plausibility of having witnessed a UFO and the other measuring beliefs of having personally witnessed a UFO. Changes that occurred as a result of the experimental manipulation will be discussed.