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American Psychological Association Hit With New Torture Allegations

Posted by Soulskill on from the protip-don't-torture-people dept.

sciencehabit writes: Did the American Psychological Association (APA) collude with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to enable the torture of detainees in the War on Terror? The answer won't be known until June, when an independent investigation is due to conclude. But at least one thing was made clear in a report from an independent group of psychologists based on e-mail exchanges between APA and CIA officials from 2003 to 2006: The world's largest professional organization for psychologists has maintained a surprisingly cozy relationship with the defense and intelligence community.

6 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Leaping to assumptions by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I know nothing about the relationship between the APA and the CIA/FBI/TSA/NSA/GOP here, so it may all be terrible. But: there are reasons to cooperate with a body that might misuse your work that do not involve encouraging them to misuse it. One example might be if the advise offered was on how to get answers out of someone without torturing them.

    One community that would, presumably, be very good at the whole knowing how to "Get information out of people without torturing them" would be psychologists (well, at least 43% of the time ;-)).

    Yes, I may be wrong here. But the truth is I'd rather wait until this report is published, than leap to assumptions.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  2. Re:Not everyone is a wingnut like the submitter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would be like them going to the AMA and asking what's the most effective way to cut someone up.

    Doctors are meant to heal not inflict damage. It's attitudes like yours that does the most damage to society.

  3. As we always said in college by Lucas123 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The ones who major in Psychology are typically the ones who need it.

  4. In Their Defense by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Insightful
    It turns out it was only actually torture about 39% of the time.

    Real doctors take an oath to do no harm with the knowledge they've been granted. I guess that's why the CIA went with psychologists.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  5. Re:Unfair rap? by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

    DO we blame plier manufacturers for their roles in torture? What is the difference between a physical tool and a psychological one?

    Unless there's a new ISO standard for ripping apart fingers and testicles for plier manufacturers, I'd say premeditation has a hell of a lot to do with the difference.

  6. A national shame by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The fact that nobody went to jail for US waterboarding is disturbing.

    The US had used allegations of waterboarding against Japanese decision makers in the post WWII war-crimes trials to sentence them. Although, it should be noted that it was typically one of multiple torture allegations.

    http://www.politifact.com/virg...

    We are filthy hypocrites. Somebody(s) should be locked up a good long time.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.