- ::For other uses of "psychosocial", see Psychosocial
In
ufology, the
psychosocial or
psychocultural hypothesis, colloquially abbreviated
PSH or
PCH, argues that at least some
UFO reports are best explained by
psychological or
social means. It is often contrasted with the better known
extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH), and is particularly popular among UFO researchers in the
United Kingdom, such as
David Clarke,
Hilary Evans, the editors of
Magonia magazine, and many of the contributors to
Fortean Times magazine. It is also popular in
France since the publication in 1977 of a book written by
Michel Monnerie,Monnerie, M. (1977).
Et si les ovnis n’existaient pas ? Paris : Les Humanoïdes Associés.
Et si les ovnis n'existaient pas? (
What if ufos do not exist?).
UFOlogists claim that the psychocultural hypothesis is occasionally confused with aggressive anti-ETH
debunking, but that there is an important difference in that the PCH researcher sees UFOs as an
interesting subject that is worthy of serious study, even if it is approached in a
skeptical (i.e. non-credulous) way.
"Ritual Debunker Abuse", the Hierophant,
Fortean Times issue 216 (November 2006), page 13.
The psychocultural hypothesis is not a single, all-encompassing explanation of the UFO phenomenon, but explains different cases in different ways, all centering in some way on human behavior. Examples of PCH explanations are...
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