The origin of torture dates back to 530 A.D. when the Romans used interrogated slaves and lower-class citizens. Today, there are international and domestic laws against the use of torture during interrogations. The United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment defines torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession.” Torture is administered as a set of abuses in an environment that causes the emotions of surprise and fear, and extinguishes any sense of escape, resistance, and relief. Torture targets the victim as a whole: emotionally, physically,
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Deprivation of humane conditions included confinement in a box, prolonged nudity, prolonged shackling, and deprivation of solid food. Detainees were also exposed to repetitive use of loud music or music. The use of phobias in torture maximizes psychological torture by conforming to the individual's fears. At Abu Ghraib, the United States Army took advantage of Muslims’ belief of the impurity of dogs to induce fear among the detainees. Another interrogation method used at Abu Ghraib was the sexual abuse of men. The infamous images taken at the prison illustrates how sexual taboos can be exploited during questioning for increasing “cooperativeness” of the prisoners. Any type of sexual abuse is extremely frightening and has shattering effects on the …show more content…
Torture has been shown to have “destructive health consequences on detainees” (Reyes, 2007, Psychological Effects of Torture, para. 1). If the survivors ever escape the environment and travel to a developed country, their stress is still compounded. Factors that contribute to survivors’ stress including uncertainty about the future, the possibility of being sent back to the country they were tortured in, and the lack of any close confidant or social support. Certain conditions in the country they flee to are also risk factors for the victim’s trauma and stress. These conditions include poverty, social isolation, unemployment, institutional accommodation, and pain. All of these predict higher emotional distress levels in torture survivors. To help the victims, the Center for Victims of Torture have set up healing services internationally and throughout the U.S. Counseling and community health mental activities help both adults and children heal from their trauma. Today, skilled group counselors, physical therapists, advocates, and educators are all being trained to help torture
Deprivation of humane conditions included confinement in a box, prolonged nudity, prolonged shackling, and deprivation of solid food. Detainees were also exposed to repetitive use of loud music or music. The use of phobias in torture maximizes psychological torture by conforming to the individual's fears. At Abu Ghraib, the United States Army took advantage of Muslims’ belief of the impurity of dogs to induce fear among the detainees. Another interrogation method used at Abu Ghraib was the sexual abuse of men. The infamous images taken at the prison illustrates how sexual taboos can be exploited during questioning for increasing “cooperativeness” of the prisoners. Any type of sexual abuse is extremely frightening and has shattering effects on the …show more content…
Torture has been shown to have “destructive health consequences on detainees” (Reyes, 2007, Psychological Effects of Torture, para. 1). If the survivors ever escape the environment and travel to a developed country, their stress is still compounded. Factors that contribute to survivors’ stress including uncertainty about the future, the possibility of being sent back to the country they were tortured in, and the lack of any close confidant or social support. Certain conditions in the country they flee to are also risk factors for the victim’s trauma and stress. These conditions include poverty, social isolation, unemployment, institutional accommodation, and pain. All of these predict higher emotional distress levels in torture survivors. To help the victims, the Center for Victims of Torture have set up healing services internationally and throughout the U.S. Counseling and community health mental activities help both adults and children heal from their trauma. Today, skilled group counselors, physical therapists, advocates, and educators are all being trained to help torture