Former APA President Martin Seligman denies involvement in developing CIA tactics
July 14th, 2008
Former APA President Martin Seligman has sent the following comment on last night’s blog posting regarding his possible role in the CIA’s torture program and asked me to post it:
July 14, 2008
The allegation that I “provided assistance in the process” of torture is completely false.
I gave a three hour lecture sponsored by SERE (the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape branch of the American armed forces) at the San Diego Naval Base in May 2002. My topic was how American troops and American personnel could use what is known about learned helplessness and related findings to resist torture and evade successful interrogation by their captors.
I was told then that since I was (and am) a civilian with no security clearance that they could not discuss American methods of interrogation with me. I have not had contact with SERE since that meeting. I have not worked under government contract (or any other contract) on any aspect of interrogation or any aspect of torture. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Jessen were present in the audience of about 50 others at my speech, and that was, to the best of my knowledge, the sum total of my “assisting them in the process.”
I have had no contact at all with the American Psychological Association about their relevant policies.
As of today, I have not seen Jane Mayer’s book, only the blogs. If necessary, I will comment further on its contents.
Most importantly, I strongly disapprove of torture and have never and would never provide assistance in its process.
Martin Seligman
Entry Filed under: APA, CIA, Interrogation, Psychological Torture, Psychology, SERE, Torture, War Crimes
6 Comments Add your own
1. "Positive Psychology&hellip | July 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
[...] More here. If the accusations are indeed mistaken, then I naturally withdraw much of the above.] 1 [...]
2. Nell | July 14th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
For one thing, the timing is suspect. Seligman has been the recognized authority on learned helplessness for many years, and the SERE program has been in existence for decades. Yet it’s in April 2002 that he’s invited to speak.
Also, Seligman’s “they could not discuss American methods of interrogation with me” seems to be protesting a bit too much. Why would that even come up, if his contact with the program is solely him delivering a lecture focused on lessons for about captured U.S. servicemembers resisting torture and evading interrogation?
3. Dr. Jonathan Gransee | July 15th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Give the guy a break! He is a highly respected member of the psychological community, with years of valuable contributions, and obvious credibility, and I’m inclined to believe what he says. If he did not have the credibility that he does, then I would be skeptical, but this is not some slacker off the street…this is a psychologist with a long track record of doing good for the field of psychology!
4. fisheye | July 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
It comes up because he’s been asked repeatedly what he knows about how his work may have been used to employ torturous techniques in contravening his intent to teach how to resist ‘learned helplessness’.
I guess if you repeat a baseless accusation enough, some people will suspect guilt.
5. Michael | July 16th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I have the greatest respect for Seligman and believe that he was, as he stated, focused on helping captured US service personnel in resisting enemy interrogation and even torture, which I think is a noble purpose for mental health professionals. I’ve been impressed in his work around learning why some ethnic wars lead to genocide and some do not. I’ve impressed at his willingness to pursue very important issues related to humanitarian treatment. By way of disclosure he is an endorser of my book, but I feel that only confirms his interest in fighting for ethical psychology. I don’t think he should be held accountable because some other psychologists used his theories and techniques for purposes of torture. That’s like holding BF Skinner responsible for the misuse of Tazers.
6. Psyche, Science, and Soci&hellip | July 18th, 2008 at 8:14 am
[...] Sullivan’s blog Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side, responds to Martin Seligman’s denial of involvement in the development of CIA interrogation tactics: Mayer on [...]
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