Torture Psychology and the American Psychological Association (APA) - #APA2015
This is a "turning point" week for American psychology, with implications that are generational, rather than short-term. These are implications that directly impact the profession and science of psychology and the degree of trust that the public can have in psychology.
Will the APA as an entity say "no" to torture, say "no" to its increased militarization, and say "no" to this Obedience-To-Our-Authority approach to membership, especially members who disagree with the entity's 'party line'? Or will it say "yes" to a return to ethics, say "yes" to an embrace of "First, Do No Harm" approach to its services, and say "yes" to an end of its bullying of people who do not agree with them? We still do not know.
You can find the "Hoffman Report" here: click here
Wednesday was a pre-conference day of workshops and meetings for the APA, including a meeting of its Council of Representatives. The most detailed media coverage of that meeting was provided on BuzzFeed, written by journalist Peter Aldhous. It is essential reading. Here is the link: After Damning Torture Report, Psychology Fights For Its Soul.
Another essential read of the day comes from Todd Essig, writing for Forbes. Here is the link: Can You Still Trust Psychology After The Torture Scandal?
Still other essential reads come from Steven Reisner, S. Shaw, and Physicians for Human Rights:
Steven Reisner:
From Dr. Reisner
S. Shaw:
How Not to Suck: APA and Torture
Physicians for Human Rights:
PHR Urges Ban on Psychologists’ Participation in Interrogations: Toronto Meeting Provides Opportunity for Key Ethics Reforms
[Photo by Anthony Risser, 15 June 2008, Philadelphia]
- Link Feast
We trawled the web for this week's 10 best psychology and neuroscience links: Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases Clinical Psychologist...
- The "dissidents" Win The Ban, Psychologists Cause American Psychological Association (apa) To Ban Its Support Of Torture And Interrogation Participation
Friday, the 7th of August 2015, was the day the anti-torture reformers (The "Dissidents") won a victory that was a decade-long in the making.Here is the approved resolution: document here. Now, the devil will be in the details as the ban needs to be encoded...
- Torture Psychology And The American Psychological Association (apa)
One of the day's essential reads: "Opening Comments of Stephen Soldz and Steven Reisner to the American Psychological Association (APA) Board of Directors" 02 July 2015 Washington, DC Read document here ...
- Torture Psychology: Another Disgusting Day In American Psychology
"Psychologists Shielded U.S. Torture Program, Report Finds" By James Risen The New York Times article The public and all psychologists who opposed such work and who felt that the APA was not being forthcoming with truth and reality owe a huge thank you...
- Sadly, Torture Psychology
Report Says American Psychological Association Collaborated on Torture Justification by James Risen The New York Times 30 April 2015 Link to article The text of the report...