Psychology and Tortureenhanced Interrogation Techniques in the Aftermath of the 9/11 Attacks

  1. Álvarez-Cruz, Antonio 1
  1. 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

Journal:
Revista de historia de la psicología

ISSN: 0211-0040,  2445-0928

Year of publication: 2021

Volume: 42

Issue: 3

Pages: 2-9

Type: Article

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More publications in: Revista de historia de la psicología

Abstract

In the aftermath of the September 2001 attacks in the USA, many suspects were arrested, kept in custody and interrogated by several US government agencies in order to obtain information about terrorist groups. Significant evidence indicates that some of the methods used, so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques”, included torture, and points to psychologists being involved in these practices. This article looks into this involvement as follows: firstly, the creation of the Behavioral Science Consultation Teams in detention centers such as Guantanamo; secondly, the variety of techniques employed to “enhance” interrogation, many of which had been designed, and even implemented by psychologists; thirdly, the successive efforts carried out by the American Psychological Association (APA) to respond to the public outcry provoked by their involvement in these practices; finally, motives for the widespread acceptability of torture, and motives that deny its effectiveness for obtaining relevant information.

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