Psychological Consequences Of Torture

Torturous methods leave those tortured psychologically damaged. Some individuals may be able to withstand the treatment, resisting physical and psychological harm, but individuals can never be sure that they are not leaving evidence of maltreatment. Enhanced interrogations techniques leave the tortured psychologically harmed. Torture produces a lasting trauma for those involved. In fact, “most trauma experts…agree that the psychiatric diagnosis of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is relevant for torture survivors,” (Costanzo, Gerrity, & Lykes 13). The consequences of torture include much more than PTSD. The consequences include psychological symptoms, such as “anxiety, depression, irritability or aggressiveness, emotional instability,

Their identity may be broken by the process of dehumanization. A 2014 study on the use of torture on refugees recognizes that “torture is directed towards instilling and reinforcing a sense of powerlessness and terror in victims and their perspective communities, political or religious groups,” (Lung). The psychological effect of fear and helplessness is profound. Other research findings indicate that torture causes abnormal sleep patterns, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. These effects can last for long periods of time, even a lifetime. Torture is dehumanizing, to the prisoner and to the inflictor. Michelle Maiese defined dehumanization as “the psychological process of demonizing the enemy, making them seem less than human and hence not worthy of human treatment” leading a person to easily inflict pain onto another person. The inflictor severely lowers the cost of a life, which is detrimental to both lives. The more psychological distance between the parties, the easier it is to exclude the other from one’s sense of moral righteousness. Psychologically, it is essential to view the enemy as “sub-human in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the