Brief
Ian Stevenson
The claims the writer was given for Ian Stevenson, in the order they were given.
1
1,400 of the documented past-life memory cases, like that of James Leininger, have resulted in the identification of what Ian Stevenson called the "previous personality", based on facts provided by the child.
“1,400 cases, like that of James Leininger, have resulted in the identification of what Stevenson called the “previous personality,” based on facts provided by the child.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:1122-1285 measurement
2
Jim Tucker took over Ian Stevenson's research at the Division of Perceptual Studies when Stevenson retired in 2002.
“After working with Stevenson for several years, Jim Tucker took over his research when Stevenson retired in 2002.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:1737-1845 administrative
3
Ian Stevenson died in 2007.
“(Stevenson died in 2007.)”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:1852-1870 administrative
4
Leslie Kean arrived at the Division of Perceptual Studies with a list of the cases she was most interested in after studying Ian Stevenson's papers and books.
“I arrived with a list of the cases I was most interested in after studying Stevenson’s papers and books”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:2762-2860 observation first hand
5
Ian Stevenson's hard copy case files contained extensive handwritten notes from interviews, original letters, notes and lists of memories made by family members, old newspaper clippings, and photographs of the current and previous families.
“Most of Stevenson’s hard copy files contained extensive handwritten notes from interviews, original letters, notes and lists of memories made by family members, old newspaper clippings, and photographs of the current and previous families.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:2996-3226 observation first hand
6
Ian Stevenson was meticulous and detailed in his investigations.
“Stevenson was meticulous and detailed in his investigations.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:3339-3384 opinion first hand
7
Ian Stevenson was a psychiatrist and the pioneer of research into past-life memories in young children.
“Psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, the pioneer of this work, published numerous scholarly articles and lengthy books about cases from all over the world.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:867-1007 administrative
8
Ian Stevenson published numerous scholarly articles and lengthy books about past-life memory cases from all over the world.
“Psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, the pioneer of this work, published numerous scholarly articles and lengthy books about cases from all over the world.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch10:867-1007 administrative
9
Ian Stevenson argued that in addition to genetics and environment, previous lives might be a third factor that contributes to the development of human personality.
“Stevenson argued that in addition to genetics and environment, previous lives might be a third factor that contributes to the development of human personality.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:12532-12679 opinion second hand
10
Ian Stevenson collected published reports of individuals who claimed to remember past lives, finding stories in books, magazines, and newspapers.
“For a number of years, Stevenson had collected published reports of individuals who claimed to remember past lives, finding these stories in various places such as books, magazines, and newspapers.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:1290-1476 observation second hand
11
Ian Stevenson was unable to obtain an autopsy report for Bua Kai Lawnak, but talked with several of his family members about his injuries.
“Stevenson was unable to obtain an autopsy report for Bua Kai, but he talked with several of the man’s family members about his injuries.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:14261-14388 observation second hand
12
Ian Stevenson listed eighteen cases that involved double birthmarks matching both the entrance and exit wound on the body of a gunshot victim, with the smaller birthmark tending to be round and the larger one more irregularly shaped in most of them.
“Stevenson listed eighteen that involved double birthmarks, ones matching both the entrance and exit wound on the body of a gunshot victim. In most of them, one birthmark was larger than the other, and the smaller one tended to be round while the larger one was more irregularly shaped.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:14821-15099 observation second hand
13
Ian Stevenson's research team documented four hundred cases in which a child had a birthmark or birth defect that corresponded to a fatal wound the previous person suffered, and two hundred cases in which the mark or defect corresponded to a nonfatal wound.
“Overall, we have four hundred cases in which the child had a birthmark or birth defect that corresponded to a fatal wound the previous person suffered, along with two hundred in which the mark or defect corresponded to a nonfatal wound.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:15693-15923 measurement first hand
14
Ian Stevenson had a long-standing interest in psychosomatic medicine before beginning his research into past-life cases.
“Such cases intrigued Stevenson, who had a long-standing interest in psychosomatic medicine before beginning this work.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:15930-16043 administrative
15
Ian Stevenson was struck by how children from different parts of the world made very similar statements about remembering a past life.
“Stevenson was struck by how children from different parts of the world made very similar statements about remembering a past life.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:1742-1867 observation second hand
16
After his 1960 paper was published, Ian Stevenson started hearing about new cases and accepted a small grant to study one in India.
“After his paper was published, Stevenson started hearing about new cases, and he accepted a small grant to go study one in India.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:1874-1997 observation
17
When Ian Stevenson started his research, he focused on Asia because that was where past-life cases were being reported.
“When Stevenson started his research, he focused on Asia, for the simple reason that it was where cases were being reported.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:18837-18951 observation
18
When a child talked about a past life in a place such as India or Thailand, word would often spread, sometimes through a newspaper story, and one of Ian Stevenson's associates would learn about it.
“When a child talked about a past life in a place such as India or Thailand, word would often spread, sometimes through a newspaper story, and one of Stevenson’s associates would learn about it.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:18961-19151 observation
19
Once Ian Stevenson started publishing his case reports, he began to hear occasionally from American parents who learned about his work.
“Once Stevenson started publishing his case reports, he began to hear occasionally from American parents who learned about his work.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:19808-19934 observation
20
Ian Stevenson published a paper in 1983 on seventy-nine American past-life cases.
“he published a paper on seventy-nine American cases in 1983”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20045-20100 administrative
21
In the Stevenson 1983 paper on seventy-nine American past-life cases, most of the children studied had not made verifiable statements about a past life.
“He reported that most of the children had not made statements about a past life that were verifiable”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20106-20196 testimony first hand
22
In the Stevenson 1983 paper on seventy-nine American past-life cases, the children who made verifiable statements almost always talked about being a deceased family member.
“those who had almost always talked about being a deceased family member”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20212-20277 testimony first hand
23
Ian Stevenson observed that American past-life cases were similar to Indian cases in that the children talked about a past life at an early age.
“the American cases were very much like ones in India: the children talked about a past life at an early age”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20323-20427 opinion first hand
24
Ian Stevenson observed that the content of American children's past-life statements was similar to that of children's statements in India.
“the content of their statements was similar”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20432-20468 opinion first hand
25
Ian Stevenson observed that American children with past-life memories often showed phobias that appeared linked to their purported past-life memories, similar to children in India.
“they often showed behaviors such as phobias that appeared linked to their purported memories”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:20481-20565 opinion first hand
26
Ian Stevenson travelled to India for four weeks and ended up investigating twenty-five cases of children with past-life memories, meeting the children and their families and piecing together the details of what had happened in each case.
“He went for four weeks and ended up seeing twenty-five, meeting the children and their families and piecing together the details of what had happened in each case.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2087-2245 observation second hand
27
Jim Tucker's research group now regularly hears from American parents describing the same kinds of statements and behaviours, and sometimes birthmarks and recognitions, that families elsewhere have reported to Ian Stevenson for over fifty years.
“we now hear from American parents all the time. They describe the same kinds of statements and behaviors and sometimes even birthmarks and recognitions that families in other places began reporting to Stevenson over fifty years ago.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:21588-21816 testimony first hand
28
Jim Tucker considers that the combined evidence from strong American past-life cases and the strongest cases studied worldwide by Ian Stevenson and other researchers shows good evidence that some young children have memories of a life from the past.
“Adding them to the strongest ones from around the world that Stevenson and other researchers have studied, I am now ready to say we have good evidence that some young children have memories of a life from the past.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:21937-22146 opinion first hand
29
Ian Stevenson had a similar experience investigating cases of children with past-life memories in Sri Lanka.
“He had a similar experience in Sri Lanka.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2251-2286 observation second hand
30
Upon returning to Virginia, Ian Stevenson received a call about a case in Alaska and discovered a number of cases among the Tlingit tribes in the area around Juneau, Alaska.
“Upon returning to Virginia, Stevenson got a call about a case in Alaska; he discovered a number of cases among the Tlingit tribes there in the area around Juneau.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2293-2448 observation second hand
31
Ian Stevenson believed that cases of children with past-life memories could be especially important in addressing the question of life after death.
“As he had written in his paper, the cases could be especially important in addressing the question of life after death.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2650-2763 opinion second hand
32
Ian Stevenson thought it might be easier to judge whether someone who was clearly living had once died than it was in studies of mediums to assess whether someone clearly dead still lived.
“He thought it might be easier to judge in this situation whether someone who was clearly living had once died than it was in studies of mediums to assess whether someone clearly dead still lived.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2770-2959 opinion second hand
33
Ian Stevenson eventually stepped down as chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia to focus all his energies on his research into past-life cases.
“Stevenson began devoting more and more time to the cases and eventually stepped down as chairman of the department to focus all his energies on his research.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:2967-3115 administrative
34
In 1967, Ian Stevenson established a small research unit at the University of Virginia, now known as the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), to conduct studies in parapsychology, including research into the question of life after death.
“He established a small unit in 1967 at the University of Virginia, now known as the Division of Perceptual Studies, to conduct studies in parapsychology, including research into the question of life after death.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:3125-3330 administrative
35
Ian Stevenson's research on past-life cases spanned forty years.
“Thus began what became forty years of work by Stevenson.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:3338-3384 administrative
36
Ian Stevenson focused his research on Asia but travelled elsewhere, and past-life-memory cases have now been documented on every continent except Antarctica.
“Stevenson focused on Asia, but traveled elsewhere as well, and cases have now been documented on every continent except Antarctica.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:3551-3671 observation
37
Ian Stevenson interested a small number of other researchers in studying past-life cases: psychologists Erlendur Haraldsson, Jürgen Keil, and Satwant Pasricha, anthropologist Antonia Mills, and later child psychiatrist Jim Tucker.
“He was able to interest a small number of other researchers in studying cases—psychologists Erlendur Haraldsson, Jürgen Keil, and Satwant Pasricha, anthropologist Antonia Mills, and later me as a child psychiatrist”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:3683-3885 administrative first hand
38
Ian Stevenson, Erlendur Haraldsson, Jürgen Keil, Satwant Pasricha, Antonia Mills and Jim Tucker have together studied over twenty-five hundred cases of children with past-life memories, and in two-thirds of them a previous person has been identified whose life matches, to a greater or lesser degree, the statements the child made.
“Together, we have studied over twenty-five hundred cases, and in two-thirds of them, a previous person has been identified whose life matches, to a greater or lesser degree, the statements the child made.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:3980-4179 observation first hand
39
Kumkum Verma, a girl in India, began talking about a past life when she was three and a half years old, according to Ian Stevenson's investigation.
“When Stevenson investigated her case, he learned that she had begun talking about a past life when she was three and a half.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:4262-4381 observation second hand
40
Ian Stevenson obtained a partial copy of Kumkum Verma's aunt's notes, which included eighteen of Kumkum's statements.
“Stevenson was able to get a partial copy of her notes, which included eighteen of Kumkum’s statements.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:4933-5024 observation second hand
41
Cases of children with past-life memories became the subject of systematic research when Ian Stevenson, then chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, began studying them in the 1960s.
“The cases became the subject of systematic research when Ian Stevenson, then the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, began studying them in the 1960s.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:569-749 administrative
42
Ian Stevenson had dozens of publications to his credit and was appointed chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia while still in his thirties.
“Though quite accomplished, with dozens of publications to his credit and an appointment as chairman of the department while still in his thirties”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch11:757-894 administrative
43
Ian Stevenson was a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia and a pioneer of research into cases of children with past-life memories.
“Dr. Ian Stevenson, psychiatrist at the University of Virginia and pioneer of research into cases of children with past-life memories, investigating a case in Burma.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch21:1788-1946 administrative
44
Ian Stevenson investigated a past-life memory case in Myanmar.
“investigating a case in Burma.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch21:1922-1946 observation
45
Ian Stevenson discovered that the previous personality named by Chanai Choomalaiwong was shot from behind, with a wound on the back of his head much smaller than the irregular exit wound on his forehead, matching Chanai's own birthmarks.
“Along with other details, he gave the name of the previous personality who Stevenson discovered was shot from behind, with a wound on the back of his head that was much smaller than the irregular exit wound on his forehead.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch21:2614-2828 observation first hand
46
Toward the end of his life, before entering hospice with two types of cancer, Budd Hopkins was given books by Leslie Kean about evidence suggesting death may not be the end, including Old Souls by Washington Post journalist Tom Shroder, who travelled with Ian Stevenson and watched him work.
“I carefully selected a few books that I thought might appeal to him, one of them being *Old Souls* by *Washington Post* journalist Tom Shroder, who traveled with Ian Stevenson and watched him work.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch23:13438-13630 testimony first hand
47
Ian Stevenson coined the term "drop-in" communicators for spirit communicators who arrive unexpectedly and uninvited at a sitting, ostensibly unknown to the medium and sitters.
“that labeled by Dr. Ian Stevenson as "drop-in" communicators—communicators who arrive unexpectedly and uninvited, and are ostensibly unknown to medium and sitters”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:37799-37954 administrative
48
Ian Stevenson considered that some drop-in communicators have explained their presence well, and that their motivation to communicate is an important part of the whole case to be explained alongside the provenance of the information communicated.
“As Stevenson remarks, "Some 'drop-in' communicators have explained their presence very well and their motivation to communicate is an important part of the whole case which has to be explained as well as the provenance of any information communicated."”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:40924-41162 opinion first hand
49
The investigators of the Runolfur Runolfsson drop-in case through Hafsteinn Bjornsson were Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson.
“and the investigators were Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:42569-42624 administrative
50
Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson considered it not feasible to attribute all the information in the Runolfur Runolfsson case to any single person or any single written source, whether the medium acquired the information normally or by extrasensory perception.
“…it does not seem feasible to attribute all of this information to any single person or any single written source. And this would be true, we believe, whether the medium acquired the information normally or by extrasensory perception.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:46401-46623 opinion second hand
51
Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson considered that some process of integration of details derived from different persons or other sources must be supposed in interpreting the Runolfur Runolfsson case.
“We think, therefore, that some process of integration of details derived from different persons or other sources must be supposed in the interpretation of the case.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:46635-46794 opinion second hand
52
Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson considered that the simplest explanation of the information integration in the Runolfur Runolfsson case may be that Runki survived his physical death, retaining many memories and subsequently communicating them through the mediumship of Hafsteinn Bjornsson.
“It may be simplest to explain this integration as due to Runki's survival after his physical death with the retention of many memories and their subsequent communication through the mediumship of Hafsteinn.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:46800-46996 opinion second hand
53
Erlendur Haraldsson and Ian Stevenson noted that sensitives have been known to achieve remarkable feats of deriving and integrating information without the participation of any purported discarnate personality.
“On the other hand, sensitives have been known to achieve remarkable feats of deriving and integrating information without the participation of any purported discarnate personality.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch28:47007-47175 opinion second hand
54
The case of Runolfur Runolfsson's ("Runki") leg presented by Alan Gauld was investigated by University of Iceland psychologist Erlendur Haraldsson and psychiatrist Ian Stevenson.
“The case of Runki’s leg that Alan presented, investigated by University of Iceland psychologist Erlendur Haraldsson and psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, is a case in point.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch29:2540-2701 administrative
55
Loyd Auerbach considers Ian Stevenson's studies of young children's abilities to recall details of another life to be well beyond the norm for psi.
“I also considered the abilities of young children to recall details of another life, studied extensively by Ian Stevenson as described earlier in this volume, to be well beyond the norm for psi.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch31:9932-10122 opinion first hand
56
Ian Stevenson highlighted circumstances in poltergeist cases in which an object flying through the air suddenly changes speed, turns at a sharp angle and continues in a new direction, or goes from hurtling through the air to suddenly floating or gently coming to rest.
“Stevenson highlights circumstances in which an object is flying through the air and suddenly changes speed; turns at a sharp angle and continues in a new direction; or goes from hurtling through the air to suddenly floating or gently coming to rest.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch34:3494-3738 opinion first hand
57
Ian Stevenson considered such poltergeist cases suggestive of a discarnate agency actually carrying the transported objects or somehow otherwise controlling their flight, and said he had not himself been able to imagine how such effects could be produced solely by the unconscious mind of the living agent.
““I think such cases suggest some discarnate agency actually carrying the objects transported or somehow otherwise controlling their flight,” Stevenson writes. “I have not myself been able to imagine how such effects could be produced solely by the unconscious mind of the living agent.””
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch34:3745-4023 opinion first hand
58
Alan Gauld, Tony Cornell, and Ian Stevenson proposed that phenomena exceeding the capacities of any living agent, such as objects materializing in midair, direct voices speaking fluently from the air, or objects becoming animated, could be caused by discarnates.
“And most bizarre of all are the phenomena that “so far as is known exceed the capacities of any living agent,” such as objects materializing in midair, direct voices speaking fluently from the air, or objects becoming animated. Along with Stevenson, the two investigators propose these could be caused by discarnates.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch34:4841-5146 opinion second hand
59
Kumkum Verma is a girl in India whose case Ian Stevenson documented in Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume I: Ten Cases in India, published in 1975.
“An example is a little girl in India named Kumkum Verma / Ian Stevenson, Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume I: Ten Cases in India (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1975), 206-40.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:10137-10330 administrative second hand
60
Sukla Gupta became distraught upon hearing the news and demanded to be taken to the person she claimed to remember from a past life, as documented by Ian Stevenson in Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation.
“Sukla became distraught upon hearing the news and demanded to be taken to her / Ian Stevenson, Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation (sec. rev. ed.) (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1974), 52-67.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:10802-11012 observation second hand
61
Ian Stevenson published 'Phobias in Children Who Claim to Remember Previous Lives' in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, volume 4, in 1990, describing how some children show phobias related to how the previous person died.
“Others show phobias related to how the previous person died / Ian Stevenson, "Phobias in Children Who Claim to Remember Previous Lives," Journal of Scientific Exploration 4 (1990): 243-54.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:11118-11303 observation second hand
62
A girl documented in Ian Stevenson's Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume II: Ten Cases in Sri Lanka fell into a flooded paddy field next to a road and drowned.
“she fell into a flooded paddy field next to the road and drowned / Ian Stevenson, Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume II: Ten Cases in Sri Lanka (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1977), 15-42.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:11308-11515 observation second hand
63
Ian Stevenson published 'Unusual Play in Young Children Who Claim to Remember Previous Lives' in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, volume 14, in 2000, documenting that past-life memories often appear in children's play activities.
“often appear in the children's play activities as well / Ian Stevenson, "Unusual Play in Young Children Who Claim to Remember Previous Lives," Journal of Scientific Exploration 14 (2000): 557-70.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:11520-11712 observation second hand
64
A child documented in Ian Stevenson's Reincarnation and Biology acted out a scene of trying to escape from a sinking boat.
“act out a scene of trying to escape from a sinking boat / Ian Stevenson, Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects (Westport, CT: Praeger, 1997), 1403-10.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:11805-12004 observation second hand
65
Chanai Choomalaiwong is a boy in Thailand whose case is documented in Ian Stevenson's work.
“Chanai Choomalaiwong, a boy in Thailand / Ibid., 300-23.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:12475-12526 administrative second hand
66
A case documented by Ian Stevenson describes a child with an exit wound on the body corresponding to that of a gunshot victim in a past life.
“exit wound on the body of a gunshot victim / Ibid., 933-34.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:12531-12585 observation second hand
67
A case documented by Ian Stevenson describes a child with only stubs for fingers on his right hand.
“only stubs for fingers on his right / Ibid., 1186-99.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:12590-12638 observation second hand
68
A case documented by Ian Stevenson describes a child with only a linear stump for his right ear.
“only a linear stump for his right ear / Ibid., 1382-1403.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:12643-12693 observation second hand
69
Ian Stevenson's Reincarnation and Biology is a twenty-two-hundred-page collection of over two hundred past-life cases.
“twenty-two-hundred-page collection of over two hundred such cases / Stevenson, Reincarnation and Biology.”
Surviving Death 2017-03-07 ch41:12700-12796 administrative second hand
70
Ian Stevenson, Bruce Greyson, Emily Cook and Jessica Utts attended the meetings Robert Bigelow describes.
“You know, we had Ian Stevenson was there and Bruce Grayson was there and Emily Cook was there. Jessica Utz was there.”
The Evolution of AAWSAP | Bigelow Podcast, Ep. 2 2026-08-11 00:05:40.9-00:05:49.4 testimony first hand