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Origin of the "Grey Alien" Concept


Carnoferox

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The first ever report of the "grey" type alien was from the infamous Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. On the night of September 19, 1961, the couple claimed to have been taken aboard an alien spacecraft against their will. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Betty described their captors as having black hair, prominent noses, and bluish-grey skin. This early description is very different from the typical grey.

 
It wouldn't be until February 22, 1964, that the first grey description would appear when the Hills underwent hypnosis sessions. The hypnosis sessions were led by Dr. Benjamin Simon, who wanted to try and bring out more memories of the abduction. Hypnosis is a controversial practice, and is thought to increase suggestibility (leading to the implant of false memories). On the 22nd, Simon was interviewing Barney when he described the aliens for the first time as being more akin to the modern day greys. Betty also changed her descriptions to match Barney's, dropping the black haired, big nosed idea.
 
Just 12 days earlier, an episode of the popular sci-fi TV series "The Outer Limits" had premiered. Entitled "The Bellero Shield", this episode featured an alien race that appeared similar to the Hills' hypnosis descriptions and the greys. At the bottom is an image of the alien from the episode, and sketches by the Hills from after the hypnosis.
 
Is it possible that Barney saw "The Bellero Shield", and it influenced his description? Considering the close dates and similar ideas, it is highly likely. The Hills' aliens would go on to influence pretty much every pop culture depiction of extraterrestrials, as well as many other abduction cases. It is interesting to think that the modern popular conception of the greys originated from a sci-fi TV show.

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Hypnosis can be a tricky thing. If someone actually believes something which is demonstrably false, they will still claim it is true under hypnosis. 

I'd say that the Outer Limits show could very well have been the inspiration of the Hill's alien descriptions. They perhaps thought of the aliens they perceived and their minds filled in details from previous "alien" images they'd seen. Happens all the time. Probably why people believe in aliens, faeries, bigfoot and ghosts.

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