I'm going the other way on this. Dharma had six branches of research as mentioned in the Orientation episode: electromagnetism (current hatch), zoology, parapsychology, utupia, etc.
We've seen hints of the zoology (i.e. the polar bears in the film and on the island), hints at parapsychology (i.e. whispers in the forest, a wet Walt appearing and speaking backwards), and it's likely, in my opinion, that the Others are remnants of an attempt at creating a utopian society. The notion of people being quarantined from the island would suggest that it was required they should not be influences by the external island and should become sufficient but, as we know from Dr Candle's speech, something went wrong.
Also, the blonde girl and the guy with the beard in the Orientation reel bear a bit of a resemblance to the bearded man and the blonde woman, slightly in shadow, who took Walt from the boat aged about twenty years. Given that Walt has infiltrated the visions of others (Shannon saw him, he appeared on the milk carton in Hurley's dream, etc.) there is an element of parapsychology going on there. It should explain why they wanted him.