Psyche, Science, and Society

Interviewed on Talk Nation Radio about the APA and interrogations

March 19th, 2007

I was interviewed by Dori Smith on Talk Nation Radio for their March 15 broadcast.

Talk Nation Radio for March 15, 2007
Stephen Soldz on Psychologists Aiding in Military Interrogations
Produced by Dori Smith at Pacifica Affiliate WHUS, Radio for the People, at the University of CT in Storrs, Connecticut
Total Running Time: 23:31

The interview can be downloaded here.

This is the description sent out to Pacifica stations on the show:

If you log on to the web site of the APA, American Psychological Association, you find what appears to be a strictly health oriented group of medical caregivers. The site offers medical referrals for those seeking therapists and provides advice on everything from depression and PTSD to how to help your child overcome school yard bullying. Yet, the APA has argued that the practices of members with US Military and intelligence agency ties should not be evaluated based on current medical practice standards or the hippocratic oath. A committee set up by the APA’s leadership defends members who participate in US Military or CIA interrogations and argues on behalf of the business side of this practice.
Big Brother, the FBI, has even urged psychologists to inform on their patients.

APA is positioned to have a major impact on the way Americans perceive the role of psychologists, but what might patients think? Does the fact that some psychologists are working at places like Guantanamo impact patients who might lose trust in therapy in general? And what impact is the presence of psychologists at interrogations having?

Psychologist, author, and peace activist, Stephen Soldz, has taken a strong stand against torture and he is presently working to get the American Psychological Association or APA to create stricter guidelines on torture. He is withholding his membership dues, and is helping to coordinate a petition drive to urge the APA to enact a moratorium on member participation in US Military interrogations. http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/

Transcripts: http://www.talknationradio.org
[The transcript does not appear to be up yet.]

If anyone needs a higher bitrate version, it can be obtained here. It is twice as large as the 64 bitrate one linked to above.

UPDATE: The interview transcript is now available online.

Entry Filed under: APA, Guantanamo, Media, Psychoanalysis, Psychology, Rights and Liberties, Torture, War Crimes