The precise number of alleged abductees is uncertain. One of the earliest studies of abductions found 1,700 claimants, while contestedsurveys argued that 5–6 percent of the general population might have been abducted.[3]
Demographics
In a study investigating the motivations of the alleged abductors, Jenny Randlesfound that in each of the 4 cases out of 50 total where the experiencer was over 40 years of age, they were rejected by the aliens for "what they (the experiencers) usually inferred to be a medical reason."[22] Randles concludes "[T]he abduction is essentially a young person's experience."[22] Given the reproductive focus of the alleged abductions it is not surprising that one man reported being rejected because he had undergone a vasectomy.[23] It could also be partially because people over the age of 40 are less likely to have "hormonic" or reproductive activity going on.
Although abduction and other UFO-related reports are usually made by adults, sometimes young children report similar experiences.[24] These child-reports often feature very specific details in common with reports of abduction made by adults, including the circumstances, narrative, entities and aftermaths of the alleged occurrences.[24] Often these young abductees have family members who have reported having abduction experiences.[24] Family involvement in the military, or a residence near a military base is also common among child abduction claimants.[24]
Mental health
As a category, some studies show that abductees have psychological characteristics that render their testimony suspect, while others show that "as a group, abduction experients are not different from the general population in term of psychopathology prevalence".[4][10] Dr. Elizabeth Slater conducted a blind study of nine abduction claimants and found them to be prone to "mildly paranoid thinking," nightmares and having a weak sexual identity,[4] while Dr. Richard McNally of Harvard Medical School concluded in a similar study of 10 abductees that "none of them was suffering from any sort of psychiatric illness."[25]
Paranormal
Alleged abductees are seen by many pro-abduction researchers to have a higher incidence of non-abduction related paranormal events and abilities.[26] Following an abduction experience, these paranormal abilities and occurrences sometimes seem to become more pronounced.[26]According to investigator Benton Jamison, abduction experiencers who report UFO sightings that should have been, but are not, reported by independent corroborating witnesses often seem to "be 'psychic personalities' in the sense of Jan Ehrenwald."[26] Psychic MediumDanielle Egnew recounted multiple abduction experiences in her 2012 bookTrue Tales of the Truly Weird, greatly detailing communication, technology and abduction methods of more than one alien race.
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