After media allegations of psychologists' role in torture, senior resignations , accusations of rigged committee votes and underhand tactics , a partial condemnation , a clarification , an 'anti-torture' candidate standing for the presidency and the forcing of a referendum, the American Psychological Society has finally and unequivocally banned participation of its members in military interrogations after a popular vote. The debate has largely been sparked by the existence of psychology-led Behavioural Science Consultation Teams (aka ' biscuit teams ') in Guantanamo Bay who study inmates and recommend 'personalised' interrogation techniques - some of which were described as "tantamount to torture" in a leaked report from the International Committee of the Red Cross and explicitly condemned as torture by the United Nations. The text of the new resolution states that "psychologists may not work in settings where persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights". The effect of the ban on these practices is questionable, however, and the influence is more likely to be at the organisational level. Despite the psychiatric and medical associations' immediate and unequivocal ban o ...
Anytime
After media allegations of psychologists' role in torture, senior resignations , accusations of rigged committee votes and underhand tactics , a partial condemnation , a clarification , an 'anti-torture' candidate standing for the presidency and the forcing of a referendum, the American Psychological Society has finally and unequivocally banned participation of its members in military interrogations after a popular vote. The debate has largely been sparked by the existence of psychology-led Behavioural Science Consultation Teams (aka ' biscuit teams ') in Guantanamo Bay who study inmates and recommend 'personalised' interrogation techniques - some of which were described as "tantamount to torture" in a leaked report from the International Committee of the Red Cross and explicitly condemned as torture by the United Nations. The text of the new resolution states that "psychologists may not work in settings where persons are held outside of, or in violation of, either International Law (e.g., the UN Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions) or the US Constitution (where appropriate), unless they are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights". The effect of the ban on these practices is questionable, however, and the influence is more likely to be at the organisational level. Despite the psychiatric and medical associations' immediate and unequivocal ban o ...