The dark side of Psychology

Psychology is a beautiful discipline, but sometimes it is used to do things that are not so good. This article present us one of this situations: when psychologists use their knowledge against the physical and moral integrity of people.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/05/the-dark-side-of-psychology-in-abuse-and-interrogation

The Institute on Medicine as a Profession (IMAP) and the Open Society Foundations (OSF) published a study of the role of psychologist in the War of Terror: they collaborated with the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense and the CIA and the CIA to develop a range of interrogation methods used in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantánamo Bay. Methods like exposure to extreme cold, sleep deprivations, prolonged stress positions, sexual and religious humiliations, between others. 

The official psychologist's role was to identify vulnerabilities of prisoners and collaborate with interrogators in exploiting that debilities. They worked in Behavioral Science Consultation Teams and were selected for their professionals training in clinical and forensic psychology. They are considered "combatants" rather than health professionals, so they could avoid normal ethical standards. 

In other way, the American Psychological Association (APA) supports the role of psychologist in interrogation: "It is consistent with the APA Ethics Code for psychologists to serve in consultative roles to interrogation and information-gathering processes for national-security related purposes". 

So, the report recommend to the APA to clarify its ethical policy and reject the participation of psychologists in interrogations. Also recommend to apply more strict prohibitions on the use of  interrogation methods that violate international standards.

Finally the article ends with the next question: "At  what point is it morally acceptable for psychologists to be deployed as weapons of war?", and suggests that this question may to be answered for the psychologist and all society.