- I have observed a gradual shift in the residents of Phoenix
and co-workers when they see the videos of the Phoenix Lights. Now, most
acknowledge that something appeared over Phoenix, that it was a mystery,
that it was probably a military experiment of sorts (something they feel
they can understand and comprehend without too big a ripple effect on their
belief structure), but many are reluctant or resistant to the idea of extraterrestrial
life and intelligence (especially if it exceeds our own).
This phenomena of rejecting evidence of something that does not fit one's
education, experience, conditioning, or model of the universe is generally
known as "cognitive dissonance". We sometimes experience this
when we see something unusual and extraordinary that does not fit with
our preconceived perception of reality and we attempt to reduce the perception
so it is harmonious with our conception of reality. For instance, someone
is driving along a highway and sees a large metal object sitting on a tripod
landing gear across the highway and he thinks that maybe it is a turned-over
truck or bus until he gets a better look at it and the truth of his perception
eventually penetrates the falseness of his preconceptions. Then he usually
utters an expletive realizing he is looking at something that he does not
have a language for or conceptions or models about - thus there is shock
and a re-evaluation of thinking.
The next big hurdle is to relay those impressions to an investigator -
oh what difficulty, especially when the investigator is ready to fit the
witnesses' perceptions into his own little box of reality. Thus what we
get is a little bit of signal immersed in a great noise.
-
- Bill Hamilton
Executive Director
SKYWATCH INTERNATIONAL
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