The Guantanamo Case: Psychology Of Terrorism

Psychologist James E. Mitchell was questioned during the military trial on the Guantanamo case and his statements left many astonished. There had been talk for some time about the use of psychology against terrorism, and Mitchell not only admitted that he had used his knowledge to torture prisoners, but also added that if he could, he would do it again.

Recall that the concept of fighting terrorism spread and became famous after the 9/11 attack on the United States. The latter responded with a kind of declaration of war, especially against irregularly armed militants in the Middle East.

Following this attack, the occupation of Afghanistan began, for example. The persecution of members of these irregular communities led to the detention of many of them, with subsequent confinement to the Guantanamo military base. First through Wikileaks and then through other means, the world learned of the torture of prisoners, perpetrated with the help of psychologists.

Two psychologists in the Guantanamo case

It all began with the discovery of the famous Al Qaeda Manual. In reality, he was a guide from the Al Qaeda group for his followers and indicated, among other things, how to lie during an interrogation. Psychologists James E. Mitchell and Bruce Jessen analyzed the document and had it delivered to US authorities.

Everything suggests that they succeeded in their attempt to draw attention to the abilities to frustrate Al Qaeda’s methods during interrogations. At the time, they both worked as psychologists and trainers at the US Air Force School of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE is its acronym in English).

Their job was to train US soldiers to withstand the different pressures they might be subjected to if captured in an armed confrontation. With the analysis of the Al Qaeda Manual, the work of these psychologists changed radically : from that moment they would have to use their knowledge to interrogate prisoners.

The unethical use of psychology

Mitchell and Jessen may appear to be the psychologists behind the torture prisoners were subjected to in the Guantanamo case. Yet, on closer inspection, they applied barbaric methods that have existed for hundreds or thousands of years and justified their use with psychological theory.

These “experts” applied the theory of learned helplessness. Recall that the definition is due to the psychologist Martin Seligman, who formulated it in 1967. It is based on the idea that constant punishment leads a person to learn to behave passively in front of an aggressor, subjected as he is to the inculcated conviction of not being able to respond to these attacks.

Mitchell and Jessen came up with a barbaric interpretation of this theory and therefore developed what they renamed as “advanced interrogation techniques.” The latter were nothing more than systematic physical torture, such as isolation, sleep deprivation and food, all in order to bring down the will of the detainees. It’s actually nothing new, it’s just sadism.

The danger of these events

The two psychologists did not even speak the prisoners’ language, however they let themselves be involved in the torture cases. They were the ones who applied procedures such as drowning and repeated headshots for hours. The most absurd thing is that there are numerous clues that despite this did not succeed in their intent: many prisoners resisted and did not reveal the requested information.

When the Guantanamo case was followed by an indictment against five prisoners, Mitchell was called to testify as a witness, without any charges against him. Together with colleague Jenssen, he earned $81 million for his work. Both are covered by insurance that provides five million dollars in the event of a trial against them. However, these trials will never take place because the Guantanamo case is shrouded in total impunity.

It is serious that one of the major powers in the world has financed and supported such cruel practices. But it is equally serious that not psychology, but the name of psychology, was used to perpetrate such barbarities.