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The shocking truth: Why psychological torture can hurt more than the physical body?
In today's society, the impact of psychological torture has received increasing attention because it can not only cause profound emotional trauma to victims, but its consequences are often even more serious than physical injuries. How exactly does this invisible torture work? This article will delve into the definition, methods, effects, and circumstances of psychological torture, and guide readers through the complexity of it.
Psychological torture is a method of torture that relies primarily on psychological effects rather than direct physical harm.
The United Nations Convention against Torture defines psychological or emotional torture as "acts that inflict severe physical or mental suffering on a person" for the purpose of obtaining information, punishing, intimidating or on grounds of discrimination. This reminds us that when faced with torture, human psychological defenses are often fragile.
The effects of psychological torture may not leave noticeable physical damage, but the permanent mental harm it causes can be just as severe.
Psychological torture techniques vary and are designed to destroy the victim's normal self-image and make them lose control over themselves and their surroundings. These techniques include isolation, sensory deprivation, and creating a sense of fear. These methods are designed to put the victim in a helpless state and create intense anxiety and panic deep in their minds.
Behind many psychological torture techniques is often the collaboration between medicine and psychology.
Complicity of medical personnel in torture has been widely exposed, particularly within some military and intelligence agencies. For example, psychological torture methods are often used during interrogations in the United States, Guantánamo Bay and other locations. The use of these techniques has led clinical psychologists to play an indispensable role in the process of torture.
Forms of psychological torture
Forms of psychological torture include, but are not limited to, sleep deprivation, forced nudity, tying up and shaving heads, all of which are designed to undermine the victim's self-concept and dignity. Another common tactic was mock execution, a method that inspired great fear in the victim while avoiding direct physical harm.
The fear of self-loss wreaks havoc on the victim, made all the more difficult to detect by the indirect nature of the torment.
Even more alarmingly, victims often have to witness others being tortured, which is undoubtedly a further psychological injury to them. As a result, victims bear the psychological burden of love and loyalty.
The effects of psychological tortureThe effects of psychological torture can last for years, or even a lifetime. Many people who have experienced torture develop mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The existence of this type of psychological trauma is often more hidden than physical injury, but the damage it causes to the victim cannot be underestimated.
Across a variety of studies, we have found that most victims of psychological torture suffer lasting psychological trauma.
Acts of psychological torture occur in many countries, including the United States and Iran. This has led to strong condemnation from all sectors of society and prompted relevant organizations to call for investigations into such behavior and improvements in relevant policies.
The Future and Challenges of Psychological Torture
As society pays more attention to mental health, awareness of psychological torture is gradually improving. However, how to eliminate this terrible behavior requires the joint efforts of the whole society. With the advancement of technology, the methods of manipulating and torturing mental states have become increasingly diversified, which brings us new challenges.
The apparent increase in incidents of psychological torture warns us that we must pay more attention to and protect everyone's psychological safety.
In these challenging times, how do we face the psychological torture hidden in our daily lives?
