Psyche, Science, and Society

Resignation letter of Virginia L. Senders, 60-year APA member

December 19th, 2007

Virginia L. Senders, an American Psychological Association member of 60 years sends this resignation letter:

President Sharon Stephens Brehm, Ph.D.
American Psychological Association Presidential Office
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC, 20002-4242

Dear President Brehm:

It is with great reluctance that I write to you to resign from the American Psychological Association. If my memory serves me correctly, it was almost exactly sixty years ago that I first joined the association and attended my first convention in New York. Although I’ve been a non dues-paying life-member for a long while, I still consider APA my major professional affiliation.

HOWEVER, as I read the voluminous exchange of letters on psychologists’ partiipation in torture, I do not find any clear, unambiguous,unwaffling statement that no psychologist may participate in designing or administering, torture. (Former APA President, Bonnie Strickland has been good enough to forward to me all the e-mail that she has received and is receiving on this subject..) I won’t recapitulate it all here.

I was surprised and disappointed to learn of Council’s recent decision, and do not want Council’s viewpoint to represent me. Unambiguously, I will not participate in the design of torture or in its administration. I can imagine possible circumstances in which I might be able to participate in evaluating it.

Thank you for removing my name from your files..

Sadly and sincerely,

Virginia L. Senders, Ph.D.

Entry Filed under: APA, Interrogation, Psychology, Torture