The Psychology of Torture

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+Introduction

Whether physical, psychological or both, torture depends on complex interpersonal relationships between those who torture, those tortured, bystanders and others. Also involved are the deep personal processes in those tortured, in those who torture and others. The interacting psychological relationships, processes and dynamics are the basis of the psychology of torture.

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A torturer will invade the shrine of one’s privacy, intimacy and integrity and do so in a deliberate, public and repeated manner, often sadistically and sexually, with obvious pleasure. For this reason, the outcomes of torture are often irreversible, long-lasting and all-pervasive.

The body of the tortured can often become their worst enemy – identified by the torturer as an accomplice and a territory. This leads to a humiliating dependency on the torturer; when bodily needs such as sleep, toilet, food and water are denied, the tortured is rendered bestial not by the sadistic torturer but by their own human needs.

Introduction

+Research

Over the past 50 years, originating with the Milgram experiment, research has shown that given the right circumstances and with appropriate encouragement and setting, the majority of people can be encouraged to torture others.

+Research

The stages of torture mentality include; Reluctant or peripheral participation Official encouragement: As with the Milgram experiment and the

Stanford Prison experiment, most people will follow directions given by an authority figure in an official setting, even if personally they are uncertain. The main motivation for this is presumably loss of respect or status, and the desire to be seen as a “good subordinate”

Encouragement by peers: the acceptance of torture as necessary, deserved or acceptable, or to comply so as not to reject a peer group belief.

Dehumanisation: viewing victims as an object of curiosity and experimentation, whereby the pain inflicted becomes merely a test to see how the victim is affected.

Disinhibition: socio-cultural and situation pressures may cause the torturers to experience a lessening of moral inhibitions, and consequently act in a way normally seen as unacceptable by law, custom and conscience.

+Research

As with many other procedures, once torture is established internally as acceptable under certain circumstances, the use becomes institutionalised and self-perpetuating over time. During the Abu Ghraib prison torture, one of the supposed ringleaders, Charles Graner Jr exemplified torture mentality when he was reported to have said “The Christian in me says it's wrong, but the corrections officer in me says, ‘I love to make a grown man piss himself’".

When the victim is deprived of contact with others and starved of human interactions, they bond with the torturer. Akin to the Stockholm syndrome, “traumatic bonding” is based on hope and the search for meaning in the brutal and nightmarish world of the victim.

+Research

The bond between torturer and tortured is especially strong when a collaboration is formed around the rituals and acts of torture, for example, if the victim is coerced into choosing the implements of torture or type of torture to be inflicted.

Psychological torture relies primarily on psychological effects, and only secondarily on any physical harm inflicted. Psychological torture does not always involve physical violence, although a continuum between psychological and physical torture exists. They are often used in conjunction with one another, overlapping in practice: the fear and pain induced through physical torture often leading to long-term psychological effects, and many types of psychological torture often involving some form of pain or force.

+Research

Methods of psychological torture attempt to destroy the victim’s self-image by removing any control they have over their environment. This creates a state of learned helplessness, psychological regression and depersonalisation. Other techniques may involve sleep deprivation, enforced nudity, head shaving and other forms of sensory deprivation.

Another form is indirect torture, preying on the victim’s loyalty and affection to a partner, relative, friend etc, whose real pain causes vicarious suffering to the intended psychological victim, who consequently feels guilt but is spared the physical harm which may affect their ability to comply with the torturer.

+Research

Psychological torture, while it may not leave any permanent physical damage (often one of the motivations for using this method as opposed to physical) can similarly lead to permanent mental damage.

The United States came under criticism after being accused of making extensive use of psychological torture techniques at Guantanamo Bay and other sites following the 9/11 attacks. Other countries have also been accused of using psychological torture, including Iran.

+Useful Journals

Journal of Communication

Journal of the American Medical Association

Clinical Psychology Review

+Useful Books

The Psychology of Torture by Shirley Spitz

Psychology and Torture by Peter Suedfeld

The Psychological Origins of Institutionalised Torture by Mika Haritos-Fatouros

Unspeakable Acts, Ordinary People by John Conroy

+Experts

John Conroy – Author of “Unspeakable Acts, Ordinary People”, lecturer, writes reports, speeches etc.

Scott Allen, MD - Medical Advisor for the Campaign Against Torture at Physicians for Human Rights member.

Bryant L. Welch JD, PhD - a clinical psychologist and attorney. He is the author of State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind (St Martins Press, 2008).

+Videos/ Audio

Psychology and Military Torture – Dr John Breeding, PhD Click here to watch

No Place to Hide: Torture, Psychologists, and the APA Click here to watch

Torture Interferes with Memory – Scientific America Click here to listen

+Blogs and Articles on the Web

Slate – Psychology and Torture

The Washington Post – The Psychology of Torture

Torture.stanford.edu - (Understanding) the Psychology of Torture

Opinionator Blog – Psychology and Torture

Psychology Today - Our Opinions About Torture Depend on the Person Who Is Tortured

+References

Mental Health Matters: http://www.mental-health-matters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=754:the-psychology-of-torture&catid=140:abuse-issues&Itemid=1872

The Psychology of Torture: http://samvak.tripod.com/torturepsychology.html

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_torture

Beyond Intractability (What it Means to Dehamanize by Michelle Maiese) http://http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/dehumanization/

About.com: Psychology (The Milgram Obedience Experiment by Kendra Cherry) http://http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/milgram.htm

The Stanford Prison Experiment http://www.prisonexp.org/

Psychology Wiki (Disinhibition) http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Disinhibition

Wikipedia (Abu Ghraib prison torture) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse

The New York Times (Charles Graner Jr) http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/g/charles_a_graner_jr/index.html

Love and Stockholm Syndrome: The Mystery of Loving an Abuser http://www.enotalone.com/article/4113.html

The Psychology of Torture by Sam Vaknin http://samvak.tripod.com/torturepsychology.html

The American Journal of Psychiatry - Sensory Deprivation http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/pdf_extract/127/11/1546

Truth It.net: Guantanamo Bay and Social Psychology are Abused Together http://www.truth-it.net/guantanamo_bay_and_social_psychology.html