The Forgotten Psychological Factor of UAP Encounters

Analysis of Psychological Effects from UAP Encounters

The phenomenon of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) has captivated the imagination of many for years. While much focus has been given to the physical attributes and potential origins of these mysterious occurrences, a crucial aspect often remains overlooked: the psychological impact on witnesses. This post delves into the findings from a qualitative analysis of the psychological effects of UAP experiences, shedding light on the forgotten human dimension of these encounters.

This project was derived from analyzing Psychological aspects in unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) witnesses

A Transformative Psychological Effect

The study reveals that witnessing a UAP often has a significant psychological impact on individuals. Many participants described the experience as transformative, profoundly affecting their outlook on life and introducing what researchers termed the “UAP deep psychological engagement triad.” This concept captures the way UAP encounters can foster a benign, non-pathological obsession, driving a deep interest in the phenomenon that influences daily thought patterns.

For many, the UAP experience was not a one-time event, but an ongoing cognitive engagement. Thoughts about the UAP were reported as a daily presence, leading to a kind of persistent fascination or even obsession. This deep engagement extended beyond the incident itself to a broader need for understanding, discussion, and exploration of what the event meant both personally and philosophically.

Psychological Profiles and Cognitive Styles

Another fascinating finding was the particular psychological profiles of UAP witnesses. The majority of participants described themselves as spiritual rather than religious, reflecting a shift toward personal, intuitive interpretations of their experiences rather than traditional frameworks. Additionally, many reported a predominantly intuitive cognitive style, emphasizing an openness to non-rational, experiential ways of understanding their encounters.

These psychological traits seem to correlate with the transformative effect of the UAP experience. Witnesses often viewed their encounter as a challenge to established scientific paradigms and personal beliefs, pushing their perceptions to the limits and creating cognitive dissonance. The phenomenon simply did not fit into pre-existing cognitive and existential frameworks, prompting a reevaluation of one’s understanding of reality.

The Need for Dialogue and Social Impact

A key theme that emerged from the study was the powerful need for dialogue. Participants consistently expressed a desire to discuss their UAP experiences, not only to make sense of their encounters but also to find a community that shared their interests. This suggests that UAP experiences create a significant social and communicative need, highlighting the importance of supportive spaces where these individuals can explore their experiences without fear of ridicule.

Interestingly, many participants called for increased scientific and governmental involvement in studying UAPs. They believed that these phenomena warranted serious attention and that the lack of transparency by official institutions only deepened the mystery and fueled distrust. Witnesses felt that government and scientific agencies should engage more openly with the UAP topic to provide a credible platform for discussion.

Life-Altering Experiences and Belief Shifts

The UAP experiences also had a life-changing impact on the beliefs and attitudes of witnesses. Many participants reported that their encounters fundamentally altered their perspective on the universe and humanity’s place within it. The notion of extraterrestrial visitation became a central topic of belief, and witnesses often developed a heightened interest in questions concerning the nature of consciousness and existence.

For some, this shift also led to increased personal motivation to care for global and planetary well-being. Witnesses of UAPs seemed to share a broader perspective that transcended the ordinary and focused on the interconnectedness of humanity and the planet, suggesting that these experiences may evoke a deeper ecological awareness.

The Human Dimension of UAP Phenomena

The psychological impact of UAP encounters is a vital but often neglected area of study. The profound effects on witnesses highlight the need to view UAP phenomena not just as an unexplained physical occurrence, but as a deeply human experience that challenges beliefs, reshapes perspectives, and stimulates ongoing engagement with profound existential questions.

For researchers, understanding the psychological dimensions of UAP experiences is crucial to comprehending the full scope of their impact. Future studies should focus not only on the physical and technological aspects of UAP but also on the human stories that accompany these extraordinary encounters. By doing so, we can better appreciate the ways in which such phenomena influence our collective consciousness and expand our understanding of reality.

© 2024 Metron Deep Research

Qualitative Data Analysis: Open Coding

Code 1: Psychological Impact of UAP Witnessing

• Transformative Effect: UAP had a clear psychological impact on witnesses, with a transformative effect, and a benign form of a non-pathological obsessive-like interest in the topic defined as the UAP deep psychological engagement triad.
  • “The UAP psychological effect on witnesses and also in interested people was clearly transformative, based on the results of our survey.”
  • “Witnesses share trends in the specific direction of a kind of non-pathological obsessive thinking about UAP, a deep mental engagement with the phenomena post-event.”

Code 2: Daily Cognitive Engagement with UAP

• Daily Presence in Mind: UAP topic being present in a witness’s mind daily.
  • “The UAP topic is present almost every day in their minds.”
  • “Participants reported that the UAP or extraterrestrial intelligence topic and its implications are present in their minds almost every day.”

Code 3: Interest and Obsession with UAP

• Interest in Topic: Self-recognized interest and appreciation for the topic.
  • “They recognize being very interested or sometimes obsessed with the topic.”
  • “I think I am somehow obsessed with the extraterrestrial topic.”

Code 4: Need to Discuss UAP

• Need to Talk: A need to talk about the UAP topic, not necessarily the event they experienced.
  • “They feel the need to talk about it.”
  • “I feel the need to talk about UAP phenomena in general, not necessarily my incident.”

Code 5: Psychological Profiles and Cognitive Styles

• Spirituality vs. Religion: Most witnesses described themselves as spiritual but not religious.
  • “Most of them described themselves as spiritual, but not religious.”
• Intuitive vs. Rational: Participants reported a mostly intuitive cognitive profile.
  • “Participants reported a mostly intuitive cognitive profile.”

Code 6: General Psychological Well-being

• Sleep Quality and Attention: No significant sleep problems, good attention skills.
  • “Participants reported no sleep problems, no predominance of introversion versus extroversion and good attention skills, in general.”

Code 7: Impact on Personal Beliefs

• Existential Beliefs: UAP phenomena challenge existing beliefs and perceptions.
  • “UAP phenomena represent a challenge, not only to science but to our own perceptions, reasoning and psyches; they do not fit our system of beliefs, standards or expectations.”
  • “UAP pushes these processes to their limits, to unknown territories, creating cognitive dissonance in witnesses because of their properties; pre-formed perceptions and physical or existential ideas simply do not fit.”

Code 8: Social and Governmental Opinions on UAP

• Government and Scientific Involvement: Participants believe that more research and attention are needed from governments and scientists.
  • “Respondents thought we are being visited by non-terrestrial intelligence.”
  • “Respondents thought governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”

Code 9: Personal Changes Post-UAP Incident

• Life Changes: UAP incidents have a life-changing effect on witnesses.
  • “Respondents reported a change in their lives after the incident(s).”
  • “Please indicate how much the UAP/UFO incident you had changed your life since having the encounter.”

Code 10: Interest in Extraterrestrial Intelligence

• Belief in Extraterrestrial Visitation: Participants believe that extraterrestrials are visiting Earth.
  • “Do you think there is evidence that extraterrestrials are visiting us today?”
  • “Respondents mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics and that the scientific community and governments should conduct more research on UAP to try to clarify their origin.”

Code 11: Cognitive Dissonance

• Cognitive Conflict: Witnesses experience cognitive dissonance due to the nature of UAP.
  • “UAP pushes these processes to their limits, to unknown territories, creating cognitive dissonance in witnesses because of their properties; pre-formed perceptions and physical or existential ideas simply do not fit.”

Code 12: Personality Traits

• Intuition vs. Rationality: Witnesses exhibit a stronger intuitive cognitive style over rational thinking.
  • “Participants reported a mostly intuitive cognitive profile (Mdn 4, Mode 4, SD 0.82), versus rational.”
• Spirituality: High spirituality but low religiosity among participants.
  • “Most of them described themselves as spiritual, but not religious (Mdn 3, Mode 5, SD 1.44).”

Code 13: Social and Familial Influence

• Family Interest: Interest in UAP often runs in families.
  • “45.5% of participants reported they had been victims of bullying at school in the past and/or suffered from psychological trauma and similar percentage showed that members of their family were also interested in the topic.”

Code 14: Sleep and Cognitive Skills

• Sleep Quality: General good sleep quality reported among participants.
  • “My sleep quality in general is: (1 is totally bad, 5 totally good) – Median 4, Mode 4, SD 1.128.”
• Attention and Memory: High attention skills, no significant introversion/extroversion difference.
  • “I consider that my attention/focus skill is good. – Median 4, Mode 4, SD 0.843.”

Code 15: Witness Reaction Patterns

• Daily Engagement: UAP thoughts are a daily presence.
  • “The UAP topic is present almost every day in their minds.”
• Obsessive Thinking: Self-recognized obsession with UAP topics.
  • “They recognize being very interested or sometimes obsessed with the topic.”
• Need for Communication: Desire to discuss UAP frequently.
  • “They feel the need to talk about it.”

Code 16: Event-Specific Psychological Impact

• Life Changes: UAP incidents significantly alter witnesses’ lives.
  • “Please indicate how much the UAP/UFO incident you had changed your life since having the encounter. – Median 4, Mode 4, SD 1.35.”
• Spiritual Transformation: Some witnesses become more spiritual post-incident.
  • “Are you a more spiritual person since your UAP incident? – Median 2.5, Mode 1, SD 1.43.”

Code 17: Societal and Scientific Perspectives

• Governmental Action: Strong belief in the need for government research on UAP.
  • “Government should officially study again UAPs due to its potential consequences. – Median 5, Mode 5, SD 0.765.”
• Scientific Research: High demand for scientific investigation into UAP.
  • “Do you think scientists need to pay more attention and do research on UAPs? – Median 5, Mode 5, SD 0.709.”

Code 18: Perception of UAP Characteristics

• Non-Conventional Attributes: UAPs are perceived to have non-conventional characteristics.
  • “Participants acknowledged they could not identify or explain what these UAP may be, they mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics in terms of speed, maneuverability, and capabilities.”

Code 19: Fear of Contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence

• Risk of Extraterrestrial Contact: Concern about the dangers of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.
  • “Contact with an extraterrestrial civilization can be dangerous for our society, since we are not ready for it (1 is totally disagree, 5 totally agree) – Median 3, Mode 3, SD 1.236.”

Code 20: Differentiation Between Witnesses and Non-Witnesses

• Psychological Profile Differences: Distinct differences in psychological profiles of UAP witnesses versus non-witnesses.
  • “The characteristics of the global sample who responded to our general psychological questions are very standard, with only a couple of particularities worth mentioning.”

Code 21: Long-term Psychological Effects

• Persistent Engagement: Continuous mental engagement with UAP years after the incident.
  • “This effect can be referred to as ‘transformative’ but specifically focused on the phenomenon itself, since it does not necessarily change other aspects of the daily life of the witness, except for knowledge of the UAP, with a mostly non-terrestrial focus.”

Code 22: Witness Demographics

• Educational Background: Varied educational levels among participants, with a significant portion having higher education.
  • “37.10% had completed or reported some college-level education, while 15.73% reported unfinished university studies, and 25.41% had a postgraduate level of education.”

Code 23: Trust in Government and Scientific Institutions

• Distrust in Official Explanations: Skepticism about government transparency and scientific explanations.
  • “Respondents thought we are being visited by non-terrestrial intelligence (Mdn 4, Mode 5, SD 1.14).”
  • “Participants mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics and that the scientific community and governments should conduct more research on UAP to try to clarify their origin (91.90%).”

Code 24: Diverse Belief Systems

• Diverse Spiritual and Religious Beliefs: Variation in spiritual and religious beliefs among participants.
  • “In the general/global sample, some results clearly supported arguments such that governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them; also, respondents thought we are being visited by non-terrestrial intelligence.”

Code 25: Emotional Responses to UAP Encounters

• Shock and Disbelief: Initial reactions of shock and disbelief among witnesses.
  • “In many cases, witnesses are left in shock and disbelief, with unsettled feelings, and this may have a life-changing effect on some.”

Code 26: Intrinsic Motivation for UAP Research

• Personal Motivation: High personal motivation for understanding UAP phenomena.
  • “A need to talk about UAP topic, not necessarily the event they experienced.”

Code 27: Sociological Implications

• Societal Impact: Potential sociological implications of widespread UAP belief and encounters.
  • “Very little attention has been paid to witnesses of them, assessing the psychological impact that UAP have on people, and their potential sociological implications.”

Code 28: Role of Media in Shaping Perceptions

• Media Influence: The role of media in shaping public perceptions and interest in UAP.
  • “Notorious effort has been put by the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) into the analysis of results from the alleged US Defence Intelligence Agency-released Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) videos of UAP during the Nimitz encounters in 2004.”

Code 29: Interdisciplinary Approach to UAP Studies

• Interdisciplinary Research: The need for an interdisciplinary approach to studying UAP.
  • “The Galileo Project is another recent initiative by professor of Science Avi Loeb (Harvard University), intended for the scientific study of extraterrestrial technological signatures including UAP using an extensive signal detectors method under the standard physics model interpretation approach.”

Code 30: Personal Changes in Beliefs Post-UAP Encounter

• Shift in Beliefs: Changes in personal beliefs and attitudes post-UAP encounter.
  • “Are you more committed to the cause of Nature, planet or global warming since your UAP incident? – Median 3, Mode 1, SD 1.54.”

Code 31: Perception of Government Transparency

• Demand for Transparency: Strong demand for greater transparency and official studies on UAP.
  • “Participants thought governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”

Code 32: Correlation with Past Trauma

• Past Trauma Correlation: Correlation between interest in UAP and past experiences of trauma or bullying.
  • “45.5% of participants reported they had been victims of bullying at school in the past and/or suffered from psychological trauma and similar percentage showed that members of their family were also interested in the topic.”

Code 33: Engagement with Scientific Communities

• Involvement in Scientific Communities: Participants’ involvement in scientific communities related to UAP and extraterrestrial research.
  • “The survey was available, in English, online distributed and accessible to people interested in the topics of UAP and SETI around the world.”

Code 34: Psychological Resilience

• Resilience Post-UAP Encounter: Demonstrated psychological resilience despite significant life changes post-UAP encounter.
  • “This UAP-DPET in general does not have a negative effect on the witness’s overall life (family, work or friends), although it is clearly something that gets the witness involved in activities related to the topic.”

Code 35: Interest in Advanced Technology

• Interest in Advanced Technology: Participants’ interest in the technological aspects of UAP.
  • “Participants acknowledged they could not identify or explain what these UAP may be, they mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics in terms of speed, maneuverability, and capabilities.”

Qualitative Data Analysis: Dramaturgical Coding

Dramaturgical codes and supporting text examples provide a framework for understanding the document as a social drama. Each participant plays a specific role in the unfolding narrative. The codes reveal the interactions and dynamics between different characters. They highlight the impact of the UAP phenomena on various aspects of human life.

Code 1: The Witness as the Protagonist

• Experience of a Life-Changing Event: The protagonist witnesses a UAP event that transforms their life and worldview.
  • “UAP had a clear psychological impact on witnesses, with a transformative effect.”
  • “Witnesses share trends in the specific direction of a kind of non-pathological obsessive thinking about UAP, a deep mental engagement with the phenomena post-event.”

Code 2: The Scientist as the Investigator

• Objective Inquiry into UAP Phenomena: Scientists are portrayed as investigators seeking to understand the physical and psychological aspects of UAP.
  • “Government agencies have shown greater interest in UAP for decades, initiating official and secret investigation programs.”
  • “The Galileo Project is another recent initiative by professor of Science Avi Loeb (Harvard University), intended for the scientific study of extraterrestrial technological signatures.”

Code 3: The Government as the Authority Figure

• Demand for Transparency and Research: The authoritative role of the government in managing public information and research on UAP.
  • “Respondents thought governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”
  • “Participants mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics and that the scientific community and governments should conduct more research on UAP to try to clarify their origin.”

Code 4: The Media as the Narrator

• Shaping Public Perception: The media’s role in narrating and framing the UAP phenomena to the public.
  • “Notorious effort has been put by the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) into the analysis of results from the alleged US Defence Intelligence Agency-released Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) videos of UAP during the Nimitz encounters in 2004.”
  • “The Galileo Project seems a complementary effort to traditional Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).”

Code 5: The Believer as the Devotee

• Deep Psychological Engagement with UAP: Individuals deeply engaged with UAP phenomena, akin to a religious or spiritual devotion.
  • “They recognize being very interested or sometimes obsessed with the topic.”
  • “I feel the need to talk about UAP phenomena in general, not necessarily my incident.”

Code 6: The Skeptic as the Challenger

• Questioning and Doubt: The skeptic’s role in challenging the narratives and demanding rigorous proof.
  • “Participants acknowledged they could not identify or explain what these UAP may be, they mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics in terms of speed, maneuverability, and capabilities.”
  • “Some results clearly supported arguments such that governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”

Code 7: The Community as the Audience

• Collective Response and Engagement: The general public’s role as the audience reacting to the UAP narratives presented by witnesses, scientists, and media.
  • “A sample of 245 participants (68.15% male, 18.15% female) participated in a survey voluntarily and anonymously.”
  • “The survey was available, in English, online distributed and accessible to people interested in the topics of UAP and SETI around the world.”

Code 8: The Event as the Catalyst

• Trigger for Transformation: The UAP event as the pivotal moment that catalyzes change and sets the drama in motion.
  • “The UAP psychological effect on witnesses and also in interested people was clearly transformative, based on the results of our survey.”
  • “UAP phenomena represent a challenge, not only to science but to our own perceptions, reasoning and psyches; they do not fit our system of beliefs, standards or expectations.”

Code 9: The Researcher as the Analyst

• Dissecting the Drama: The researcher’s role in analyzing the social drama, understanding the characters, and revealing underlying themes.
  • “In this study, we surveyed a total of 245 people about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), 93 who directly witnessed UAP.”
  • “While great effort has been made and is currently underway to understand the physics of UAP, very little attention has been paid to witnesses of them, assessing the psychological impact that UAP have on people, and their potential sociological implications.”

Code 10: The UAP as the Antagonist

• Disrupting Reality: The UAP as the mysterious force that disrupts normalcy and challenges existing paradigms.
  • “UAP pushes these processes to their limits, to unknown territories, creating cognitive dissonance in witnesses because of their properties; pre-formed perceptions and physical or existential ideas simply do not fit.”
  • “In many cases, witnesses are left in shock and disbelief, with unsettled feelings, and this may have a life-changing effect on some.”

Code 11: The Family as the Supporting Cast

• Influence and Support: The role of family members in influencing and supporting the protagonist’s journey.
  • “Similar percentage showed that members of their family were also interested in the topic.”
  • “Family involvement in the UAP topic was reported by many participants, indicating a shared interest and support system.”

Code 12: The Witness as the Truth Seeker

• Quest for Understanding: Witnesses are driven by a quest to understand and make sense of their experiences.
  • “The UAP psychological effect on witnesses and also in interested people was clearly transformative, based on the results of our survey.”
  • “They feel the need to talk about it and often seek more information to understand what they witnessed.”

Code 13: The Scientist as the Sceptic

• Demand for Evidence: Scientists require empirical evidence and rigorous research to validate UAP phenomena.
  • “Scientific studies on the phenomena are not numerous and relatively recent, serious when trying to understand the physics and aerodynamics of UAP.”
  • “Most efforts by the scientific community nowadays are focused on the physical aspects of UAP, including acceleration, speed, maneuverability, etc.”

Code 14: The Government as the Gatekeeper

• Control and Disclosure: The government controls the flow of information and decides what to disclose to the public.
  • “Government agencies have shown greater interest in UAP for decades, initiating official and secret investigation programs.”
  • “Participants thought governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”

Code 15: The Media as the Amplifier

• Broadcasting the Phenomena: The media amplifies the UAP narrative, influencing public perception and interest.
  • “Notorious effort has been put by the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) into the analysis of results from the alleged US Defence Intelligence Agency-released Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) videos.”
  • “The Galileo Project seems a complementary effort to traditional Search for extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).”

Code 16: The Believer as the Advocate

• Promoting the UAP Cause: Believers advocate for greater recognition and investigation of UAP phenomena.
  • “Respondents thought we are being visited by non-terrestrial intelligence.”
  • “Witnesses share trends in the specific direction of a kind of non-pathological obsessive thinking about UAP.”

Code 17: The Skeptic as the Rationalist

• Demand for Rational Explanations: Skeptics challenge UAP narratives with demands for rational and scientific explanations.
  • “Some research has been done in the past, mostly vague studies trying to explain observers’ accounts, or stories alluding to psychology-related issues.”
  • “Participants acknowledged they could not identify or explain what these UAP may be, they mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics.”

Code 18: The Community as the Chorus

• Collective Voice and Consensus: The community provides a collective voice, reflecting broader societal views and consensus on UAP.
  • “A sample of 245 participants participated in a survey voluntarily and anonymously.”
  • “The survey was available online and accessible to people interested in the topics of UAP and SETI around the world.”

Code 19: The Event as the Turning Point

• Catalyst for Change: The UAP event acts as a turning point, prompting significant changes in the protagonist’s life.
  • “Respondents reported a change in their lives after the incident(s).”
  • “The UAP episode changed my opinion about UAPs.”

Code 20: The Researcher as the Observer

• Neutral Analysis and Interpretation: The researcher observes and interprets the social drama from a neutral standpoint.
  • “In this study, we surveyed a total of 245 people about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), 93 who directly witnessed UAP.”
  • “The present study found that UAP had a clear psychological impact on witnesses.”

Code 21: The UAP as the Enigma

• Mystery and Intrigue: The UAP is an enigmatic force that elicits curiosity, fear, and wonder.
  • “UAP pushes these processes to their limits, to unknown territories, creating cognitive dissonance in witnesses.”
  • “In many cases, witnesses are left in shock and disbelief, with unsettled feelings.”

Code 22: The Family as the Support System

• Emotional and Social Support: Family members provide emotional and social support to the protagonist dealing with the UAP experience.
  • “45.5% of participants reported they had been victims of bullying at school in the past and/or suffered from psychological trauma and similar percentage showed that members of their family were also interested in the topic.”

Code 23: The Public as the Spectators

• Observing the Drama: The general public acts as spectators, observing the unfolding drama of UAP phenomena.
  • “Participants thought governments and scientists should pay more attention to the phenomena and study them.”
  • “The publicized videos of UAP by the US Pentagon, including the Nimitz encounters, attracted widespread attention.”

Code 24: The Believer as the Zealot

• Intense Devotion and Advocacy: Believers exhibit intense devotion to the UAP cause, often advocating passionately for recognition and research.
  • “I feel the need to talk about UAP phenomena in general, not necessarily my incident.”
  • “They recognize being very interested or sometimes obsessed with the topic.”

Code 25: The Skeptic as the Doubter

• Persistent Doubt and Criticism: Skeptics persistently doubt UAP claims and critically evaluate the evidence.
  • “Divided opinions existed regarding the extra-terrestrial origin of UAP and the potential outcomes or risks of contacts with EI.”
  • “Participants mostly agreed that UAP showed non-conventional characteristics but remained skeptical about their origins.”

Code 26: The Community as the Collective Consciousness

• Shared Beliefs and Norms: The community reflects shared beliefs and norms, influencing individual perceptions and actions.
  • “Participants reported no sleep problems, no predominance of introversion versus extroversion and good attention skills, in general.”
  • “Most of them described themselves as spiritual, but not religious.”

Code 27: The Event as the Revelation

• Moment of Truth and Realization: The UAP event serves as a moment of truth, revealing deeper insights and understanding to the protagonist.
  • “UAP had a clear psychological impact on witnesses, with a transformative effect.”
  • “The UAP or extraterrestrial intelligence topic and its implications are present in my mind almost every day.”

Code 28: The Researcher as the Interpreter

• Decoding the Drama: The researcher decodes the social drama, providing insights and interpretations to understand the broader implications.
  • “While great effort has been made and is currently underway to understand the physics of UAP, very little attention has been paid to witnesses of them, assessing the psychological impact that UAP have on people, and their potential sociological implications.”