Psychologists’ Group Bans Participation in Some Interrogations

The American Psychological Association barred psychologists Friday from participating in national security interrogations at sites violating international law.

A panel of the group’s leaders passed a resolution enacting the ban by an overwhelming 156-1 vote. They voted following the association’s self-commissioned independent investigation into the post-9/11 practices by psychologists, which found that the organization compromised its principles and procedures by working with the Department of Defense on “abusive interrogation techniques.”

The resolution does not apply to psychologist participation in domestic security or detention settings where the Constitution protects the detainees, the APA said.