Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 7/17/08 Section: News
Prof. denies rumors of assistance in torture techniques
New book cites professor's psych research as influential in torture
Alyssa Schwenk
Recently published book The Dark Side by author and New Yorker writer Jane Mayer ties the work of Penn professor and psychologist Martin Seligman to interrogation techniques used by the CIA to extract confessions from detainees allegedly linked to al Qaeda.
Seligman, the father of a Summer Pennsylvanian news editor, is known for developing the theory of learned helplessness. The theory is based on experiments he led in which dogs that experienced a random shock that they believed they could not control showed signs of depression and apathy to their situation.
Extrapolated to the human condition, Seligman's theory of learned helplessness predicts that those who believe they have little control over their situation often become passive and apathetic to their state.
Mayer's book alleges that Seligman's research heavily influenced the psychologists that developped CIA interrogation techniques at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. But in a pre-publication review of the book's content, Harper's Magazine writer Scott Horton writes that Seligman "assisted" in the development of their interrogation techniques. This statement has since circulated on several psychology-related blogs and is a claim that Seligman unequivocally denies.
"The allegation that I 'provided assistance in the process' of torture is completely false," Seligman said in a written statement. "I strongly disapprove of torture and have never and would never provide assistance in its process."
According to Mayer's book, Seligman's theory was an inspiration to the two psychologists, James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who worked with the classified military-training Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape program. The program trained U.S. soldiers to survive and resist interrogative methods when in captivity.
Mitchell and Jessen were allegedly contracted by the CIA to reverse these techniques and interrogate allegedly al Qaeda-linked detainees to obtain information about planned terrorist attacks.
Seligman, the father of a Summer Pennsylvanian news editor, is known for developing the theory of learned helplessness. The theory is based on experiments he led in which dogs that experienced a random shock that they believed they could not control showed signs of depression and apathy to their situation.
Extrapolated to the human condition, Seligman's theory of learned helplessness predicts that those who believe they have little control over their situation often become passive and apathetic to their state.
Mayer's book alleges that Seligman's research heavily influenced the psychologists that developped CIA interrogation techniques at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. But in a pre-publication review of the book's content, Harper's Magazine writer Scott Horton writes that Seligman "assisted" in the development of their interrogation techniques. This statement has since circulated on several psychology-related blogs and is a claim that Seligman unequivocally denies.
"The allegation that I 'provided assistance in the process' of torture is completely false," Seligman said in a written statement. "I strongly disapprove of torture and have never and would never provide assistance in its process."
According to Mayer's book, Seligman's theory was an inspiration to the two psychologists, James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who worked with the classified military-training Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape program. The program trained U.S. soldiers to survive and resist interrogative methods when in captivity.
Mitchell and Jessen were allegedly contracted by the CIA to reverse these techniques and interrogate allegedly al Qaeda-linked detainees to obtain information about planned terrorist attacks.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 11
Steve Real
posted 7/17/08 @ 10:11 AM EST
You know what I think
about this administration running
around the law , the courts, and the judges?
Sieg Heil !
Sieg Heil !
Sieg Heil !
Where's my damn brown shirt 'W?
Mark Seligman is a sicko!
You are sick and twisted!
Is this what you want to teach your kids?
You f-ing wierdo!
Alum 06
posted 7/17/08 @ 10:12 AM EST
Finally a Penn professor does something useful and the DP gets all liberal about it.
OLIVE GROVE BOOKS
posted 7/17/08 @ 10:17 AM EST
Doesn't the jpeg below look strikingly similar to what the U.S. did to that re-entering satellite several months ago? (See jpeg at borders.com or barnesandnoble. (Continued…)
Linda Johnson
posted 7/17/08 @ 2:21 PM EST
"The father of a Summer Pennsylvanian news editor"
Seriously? Great journalism here.
Lemonade Diet
posted 7/17/08 @ 5:12 PM EST
As far as Professor Seligman being against torture, he went through some inner turmoil about torturing animals for his research on helplessness. He only decided to do it because the research could help millions of people. (Continued…)
Lemonade Diet
posted 7/18/08 @ 2:19 AM EST
As far as his research being used against the terrorists, that is how research is. For example because the U.S.A. researched and created nuclear bombs, Iran has been exploding nuclear bombs. (Continued…)
Lemonade Diet
posted 7/21/08 @ 12:18 AM EST
Did you tell that last story correctly? How does one shoot oneself in the head and then shoot one's wife "next"?
I ended with a joke that I think is funny. (Continued…)
KM
posted 7/21/08 @ 7:52 PM EST
The CIA taught torture techniques to US puppet states long before Seligman did his research. It is preposturous for someone like McCain to claim torture when he came back without needing a wheelchair. (Continued…)
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