The Psychological Origins of Institutionalized Torture / Edition 1

by Mika Haritos-Fatouros

Overview

Original research, including interviews with former Greek torturers, is supplemented by discussion of former studies, military records and other sources, to provide disturbing but valuable insights into the psychology of torture. The book describes parallel situations such as the rites of passage in pre-industrial societies and cults, elite Corps military training and college hazing, eventually concluding that the torturer is not born, but made.
Of essential interest to academics and students interested in social psychology and related disciplines, this book will also be extremely valuable to policy-makers, professionals working in government, and all those interested in securing and promoting human rights.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415282765
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/10/2002
Series:	Routledge Research International Series in Social Psychology
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mika Haritos-Fatouros is Professor of Psychology at the University of Thessalonica, Greece. She studied psychology and psychotherapy at universities in London, Oxford and Thessalonica, and has held visiting appointments at universities in the USA, Europe and Australia. She is President Elect of the European Association of Counselling and Honorary President of the Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims in Thessalonica. She has published works on the subjects of psychotherapy, populations in crisis, women's issues and the psychology of state torturers, and is co-author of the forthcoming book on 'Violence Workers', which will be published by University of California Press.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Approach and Methodology 3. The Greek Situation 4. Transforming Ordinary Men into Torturers 5. Case Study of a Chief Torturer 6. Dispositional Factors in Greek Torturers: Are They Enough Explanation 7. The Psychological Theories of the Origins of Torture 8. Reconstruction Processes 9. Parallels to Comparisons 10. Epilogue