Breaking the Mind: The Intricate Dance of Psychological Torture in Espionage
As dilettantes, our understanding of torture is quite similar to oxford’s english dictionary. To us torture is harm inflicted upon a person inorder to coerce them to do something or to unfold secrets. The TV shows and media representation of such atrocities comprise the soul of our understanding. Extreme physical harm inflicted upon an adversary defines torture in an ameture’s mind. But is that all?
According to 1984 UN Convention against Torture (CAT), torture is any act that consists of the intentional infliction of ‘‘severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental’’. This expands the horizon for understanding torture and the pain inflicted by it. This definition brought a new light in the human rights forum, as it widened the scope for discussion of psychological torture and psychological pain. Let's break down this definition to understand how a compilation of a mere eight words shine light upon the ever existing, but barely understood concept of psychological torture. The main element of interest in the definition is mental pain or suffering. Unlike physical injuries this is not visible, then how can such mental anguish be accounted for in official records? Psychological discomfort, dysfunction or distress are the three key definitive terms of mental anguish. This can have a lasting effect on a person and can make them susceptible to innumerable psychological disorders.
Psychological torture has serpentine explainations. Use of psychological methods and psychological effects are the two main elements of psychological torture. These methods include psychologically coercive tactics used during interrogation such as manipulating phobias, abnormal sensory stimulation, threats to loved ones and breaking down the self identity are few examples that can be cited. Physical effects of torture are easy to identify, however psychological effects get embedded in the interiors of one’s psyche. They leave lasting imprints on one’s whole existence and often leave them to deal with severe mental discomfort. Unlike physical injuries, psychological one’s can't be easily quantified as severe or moderate. Human psychology is a labyrinth yet to be trotted in its entirety and thus, even in today's date and time, quantification of psychological pain is debated.
However, the causative factors for psychological pain cannot be limited to psychological torture. Psychological pain can be observed as a by product of physical torture as well. Thus, to summarise, psychological torture does not necessarily have individualistic existence and the same can be said for physical torture. Psychological and physical exist as two poles of the same continuum, where the psychological torture can exist alone at the extreme point of the continuum but the same cannot be concretely said for physical torture. Mental anguish exists as a by-product throughout the continuum, certain times accompanied by physical injuries.
Psychological torture includes coercive techniques, most of which dont even include any sort of physical touch. These tactics may not not touch the body but they definitely scar the soul. These coercive techniques include abnormal sensory stimulation, like solitary confinement in places which restrain a person's mobility, light deprivation, or even total sensory deprivation, overstimulation by noise are all the tactics which render a person helpless. These tactics are also personalised on the basis of the person's cultural and social identity. Breaking down their structure of self or identity through humiliation, forcing them to do things which they may consider a sin, are all degrading treatments. Threatening ones family and invoking fear of death are well known non - physical torture techniques. Use of phobias are also prominently used.
Psychological torture is a barbaric cicatrix which marks our planet. It is a venom which can be tailored to a person's precise fears, thus intensifying its detrimental effects. A person's sensory stimulation and sense of self are two key components which make them humans. These cynical acts are subjective for each individual, as they are created, keeping in mind their ethnic backgrounds. Since these are psychological and thus not visible, they may appear to be negligible and inconspicuous;however they play on the vulnerability of the person and thus, are intensely coercive over a long duration. Thus, torture goes way beyond its definition of “pain and suffering”, it is a bottomless pit of agony in which the deeper ends may not be visible, but they are harmful beyond our understanding.
The effects of psychological torture range from feelings of fear, shame, guilt, grief and humiliation to serious psychological disorders. The brutal attack on the detainees psychological well being and mental health can lead to grave psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, hallucinations and even loss of consciousness. Depersonalization, or losing sense of one's identity is also observed. Sources state that psychological torture can also lead to libidinal regression and ego regression. According to the psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud, regression is a defence mechanism used to deal with threatening situations by reversal of ego to an earlier psychosexual stage. In simple terms it can be understood as behaving in an immature or age inappropriate way. Libidinal regression and ego regression refer to going back to an earlier stage and is determined by its fixation.
Many nations and organisation are recognising psychological torture and its detrimental effects on the human psyche. The Istanbul protocol is a testament to this. It recognises torture as a holistic process involving both physical and psychological methods, citing medical research from rehabilitation centers. It points out the shortcomings of the definition and states that these shortcomings lead to the trends of negative use of the definition leading to increasing use of psychological torture to avoid any physical evidences.
Media specifically the film industry, has focused on the lives of soldiers and secret agents. Through plots majorly focusing on solving a mission, these movies give the audience an insight on the hardship and the trajectory that they follow to ensure the security of the nation. They are quite accurate when displaying the psychological impact of their missions and the of the psychological torture they might have committed or endured. However, at certain times the dramatics over shadow the reality, thus misleading the audience.
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About the author:
Thea Shah
Subhead of Psy Creative t year, B.Sc applied psychology student, SDSOS,NMIMS.
She is a first year applied psychology student with a knack for writing. She has worked as an editor for several magazines and youth organisations. Her love for psychology reflects in her writing. She confides in her pen and considers it as her way of expressing her thoughts.
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