Baker report, 1968 congressional hearings

In instances where an observer is being retrospectively evaluated (i.e., he has already reported an event) there should be an
intensive effort made to explore the observer's feelings about what he has seen and described. Such discussion, when
properly guided, is likely to uncover inconsistencies and other helpful clues, in the case of the noncreditable observer.
Unconscious motivational forces that have led to inaccurate reporting can sometimes be uncovered by exploring the
observer's fantasy life, listening for slips of the tongue, or attempting free association. In an occasional observer, where
substantiation of his creditability is crucial and there is vague reason to suspect it, a pentathol interview may be indicated.
In instances where frank lying about an event is suspected, the observer can be questioned while monitored by a polygraph.
This machine measures some of those bodily responses that are under the control of the autonomic nervous system which
is, in turn, partly regulated by cortical centers. If the observer being studied is truly sociopathic and has never developed a
super-ego, or conscience, the polygraph will not be able to pick up his lie, since he will have no associated conflict on
telling it. The lying will be picked up, however, when the polygraph is used on other personality types.
Up to this point, this paper has focused on the many factors that interfere with observer creditability. There
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is as well, an obvious positive application for these assessments. The psychiatric evaluation, for example, can be useful for
further screening for the strengths of observer candidates who have already been ruled medically and neurologically intact.
In addition to making some sound predictions about accuracy of reported observations, the psychiatrist could also explore
the candidate's ability to appropriately respond, under stress, to what he has seen. This aspect of an individual's make-up is
of grave importance (as implied earlier) in some military, security, and other key positions.
Bibliography
1. Baker, R. M. L., Jr., "Observational Evidence of Anomalistic Phenomena," and "Future Experiments on
Anomalistic Observational Phenomena," Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, January-February 1968. An
Introduction to Astrodynamics, Academic Press, 1967, pp. 319-333.
2. De Waele, J. P., "An Experimental Critique of Testimony," Review de Proit Penal et de Criminologic, 44: 955-
980,1963-65.
3. Brainerd, H., Current Diagnosis and Treatment, Lange Medical Publ. Los Altos, Calif., 1968.
4. Walsh, F. B., Clinical Neuro-ophthalmology, 3rd Ed., Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Md. 1957.
5. Smith, J. L., Opticokinetic Nystagmus, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill. 1966.
6. Merritt, H. H., A Textbook of Neurology, 4th Ed., Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, Pa. 1967.
7. Walker, S., III, Psychiatric Signs and Symptoms Due to Medical Problems, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, III., 1967.
8. Cameron, N., Personality Development and Psychopathology. A Dynamic Approach, Houghton, Mifflin, Boston,
Mass. 1963.
9. Walker, S., III, "The Neuropsychiatric Evaluation of the Eye Witness," To be published.
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