John Girvetz, Ph.D.
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Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
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| Ethics Statement | Monterey Bay Psychological Association Position on the Role of Psychologists in Military Interrogations
The members of the Monterey Bay Psychological Association feel compelled to speak out, unequivocally and without further delay, against the unethical, immoral, and illegal practices taking place in military prisons around the world. As psychologists, we would like to stand with all those who have protested the use of psychologists as consultants to torture, degradation, cruelty and/or inhumane treatment of military prisoners. In its structured examination of the ethics of this practice, the APA Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS) Task Force did not go far enough in identifying and denouncing the misuse of psychological theory and practice in military interrogations and on rendition teams. We were disappointed and dismayed that the APA Council voted to approve the Task Force Resolution, rather than the more stringent Moratorium against Interrogations, at the August 2007 APA Convention. |
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| An Open Letter from the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association | June 18, 2009 Dear Colleague,
As a psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association (APA), you no doubt share our serious concerns about reports regarding the involvement of psychologists in torture and abusive interrogations as part of the Bush administration’s “war on terror.” We recognize that the issue of psychologist involvement in national security-related investigations has been an extremely difficult and divisive one for our association. We also understand that some of our members continue to be disappointed and others angered by the association’s actions in this regard. Although APA has had a longstanding policy against psychologist involvement in torture, many members wanted the association to take a strong stand against any involvement of psychologists in national security interrogations during the Bush administration. |
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| Open Letter in Response the American Psychological Association Board | | June 29, 2009 On June 18, 2009, the American Psychological Association [APA] Board issued an Open Letter on the subject of psychologists' involvement in abusive national security interrogations. The letter is among the first formal acknowledgements from APA leadership that psychologists were involved in torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. We welcome this progress. Similarly, the letter acknowledges APA’s member-initiated referendum prohibiting psychologist participation in detention centers that are in violation of international law and overturning APA Council’s repeated refusals to do so. This is an improvement over very recent messages from APA officials that characterized press descriptions of APA policy as supporting psychologist participation in such interrogations as "fair and balanced." |
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| Social Issues Forum Report | | submitted by Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D., Summer 2008 Stephen Soldz, Ph.D. sent the following announcement about a rally planned for the APA Convention in Boston, Saturday, August 16, 12-2 pm. Speakers include Drs. Stephen Soldz, Steven Reisner, Ghislaine Boulangier, Bryant Welch, and Dan Albers. This rally has been endorsed by APA Division 39, Section IX (Psychoanalysis and Social Responsibility). Based on MBPA’s long-held position denouncing psychologist involvement in military interrogations and rendition teams, and our participation last year, we have again offered our endorsement. |
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| Torture and the Strategic Helplessness of the American Psychological Association | Torture After Dark
By STEPHEN SOLDZ, BRAD OLSON, STEVE REISNER, JEAN MARIA ARRIGO and BRYANT WELCH Jane Mayer's new book, The Dark Side, has refocused attention on psychologists’ participation in Bush administration torture and detainee abuse. In one chapter Mayer provides previously undisclosed details about psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen’s role in the CIA's brutal, “enhanced interrogation” techniques. These techniques apparently drew heavily on the theory of "learned helplessness" developed by former American Psychological Association President Martin Seligman. (Seligman’s work involved tormenting dogs with electrical shocks until they became totally unable or unwilling to extract themselves from the painful situation. Hence the phrase “learned helplessness.”) |
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Social Issues Forum Report
submitted by Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D., Spring 2008
The MBPA Social Issues Forum continues to follow the APA/military interrogations controversy. Last February APA amended the 2007 Resolution on Interrogation, tightening up the language a bit more (go to www.apa.org for full text). While the APA leadership appears to be listening to members’ concerns, and have come a long way since the first Resolution, they still refuse to unambiguously denounce psychologists’ role. You may recall the AMA and American Psychiatric Society, among other professional organizations, removed themselves from any and all involvement when the issue of torture first surfaced. CPA has recently become more concerned, though they appear to closely follow APA’s lead. Nevertheless, they are supporting a bill before the California legislature that would prohibit California licensed medical personnel, including psychologists, from engaging in military interrogations. If you are interested in learning more and would like to voice your concerns or sign the petition, go to the Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles e-activism campaign site here. |
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Board of Directors 