Did Psychologists Practice on the Dark Side?

In his review of The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals, Edward J. Tejirian writes,

[A secret] memo provided the rationalization for a whole range of abusive "techniques" that were put into practice at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan, and in the CIA's secret prisons. It also enabled the president to flatly declare, "We don't torture," and, in his own mind, to believe that he was telling the truth. Yet, in practice—and this is what makes The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals so critically relevant to psychologists and to psychology—almost all the torture inflicted on those detained was psychological in means and intent. It is true that physical abuse that adversely affected the health and safety of detainees was also used—the occasional beating, exposure to extremes of heat and cold, and, of course, water boarding. But it was the "dark side" of psychological theory that provided the rationale for the suffering that was inflicted on those detained in the "war on terror."

Psychologists interested in these issues are encouraged to read Tejirian's review of The Dark Side, along with the companion review by Steven Behnke, and Charles Figley's review of The Trauma of Psychological Torture in the same release.

Read the Review

Alternate Realities
By Edward J. Tejirian
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2009 Vol 54(22)

Comments

[Marsha V. Hammond, PhD Clinical Psychologist, Asheville, NC]

I think now we are finally beginning to hit pay dirt as re: the use of psychologists' expertise pertaining to torture regimens. The brouhaha so far has been associated with the physical manifestations of torture e.g., waterboarding; standing in the same position for hours; use of snarling dogs, etc---and just where were the psychologists as re: this process.

NOW we're getting information on just how psychology utilized its areas of expertise to undermind the sanity of detainees.

And THAT should certainly not be in keeping w/ the APA Code of Ethics and is indeed, the dark,nefarious side of psychologists' training that was meant to improve the lot of humanity----not degrade and annhilate humans' ability to function in the world.

What seems to not be discussed is just WHAT ARE the effects of having been exposed to psychologically oriented torture techniques?

Keep digging.
Marsha V. Hammond, PhD