| Resigning from the American Psychological Association |
In November 2009, after years of struggling to reverse American Psychological Association policies
growing out of their complicity in illegal and inhumane detentions in the “war on terror,” a number of
psychologists concluded that the APA had demonstrated such profound ethical failures that they
could no longer, in good conscience, remain affiliated with the organization.
These actions, among others, have led us to take this step:
While there has been some progress on some issues, these gains have been made in the face of
concerted opposition from APA leadership. Other cases of ostensible policy change have proven to
be window dressing – improving the APA’s reputation while insuring that no substantial change was
manifested. We have had to muster the strength needed to move mountains just to move the APA
an inch. It is apparent that conflicts of interest between the APA and the military routinely influence
the policies in question and undermine the ethical foundations of our profession. The APA has shown
itself to be more committed to keeping good relations with powerful interests than it is in serving the
interests of its membership.
In the hopes of restoring integrity to the organization that is charged with being the official voice of
psychologists in the United States, we call for a full, independent investigation of APA leadership and
policy decisions regarding the abuse of psychological knowledge in interrogations and detention.
We, the undersigned, will no longer lend it legitimacy to the APA by being counted as members. The
American Psychological Association has left us and therefore we must resign until the organization is
prepared to put principles before power.
If you would like to learn more about these issues go to: www.ethicalapa.com
If you would like to resign from the APA and add your signature to this letter of resignation go to:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aparesignation/index.html
growing out of their complicity in illegal and inhumane detentions in the “war on terror,” a number of
psychologists concluded that the APA had demonstrated such profound ethical failures that they
could no longer, in good conscience, remain affiliated with the organization.
These actions, among others, have led us to take this step:
- The composition, deliberations, and process of the 2005 APA President’s Task Force on
Psychological Ethics and National Security that constituted a series of violations of APA's own
bylaws. - APA leadership’s failure to fully implement the 2008 Referendum, passed by the membership,
barring psychologists from working in settings that violate international laws, such as the
Geneva Conventions, even after the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture pointed out that
“every day that the APA delays in invoking the Referendum is another day when psychologists
are acquiescing in human rights violations.” - The failure of the APA’s Ethics Committee to deal with complaints filed against psychologists
both for outright acts of torture and for maintaining conditions tantamount to torture. - APA leadership’s failure to give an accounting of contacts between them and James
Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, two psychologists who implemented the CIA’s “enhanced
interrogation” torture program. Mitchell and/or Jessen were present for at least two
conferences jointly organized by the APA and the intelligence community and for at least two
meetings with a former APA President where abusive strategies were discussed. In addition,
another former APA President was on the board of Mitchell-Jessen Associates. - APA’s 2002 revision, introduction, and defense of Ethical Standard 1.02 (referred to as the
Nuremberg defense) that permits psychologists to violate their ethical code if ordered to do
so, and the leadership's defense of that revision in the face of years of opposition from the
membership and the Council of Representatives. - APA leadership’s reluctant agreement to finally consider alternatives to Standard 1.02 only
after members’ protests could no longer be ignored. (The code remains in force.) - In 2002 APA substantially weakened protections of research subjects, including removing
informed consent requirements when consistent with government or organizational
regulations.
While there has been some progress on some issues, these gains have been made in the face of
concerted opposition from APA leadership. Other cases of ostensible policy change have proven to
be window dressing – improving the APA’s reputation while insuring that no substantial change was
manifested. We have had to muster the strength needed to move mountains just to move the APA
an inch. It is apparent that conflicts of interest between the APA and the military routinely influence
the policies in question and undermine the ethical foundations of our profession. The APA has shown
itself to be more committed to keeping good relations with powerful interests than it is in serving the
interests of its membership.
In the hopes of restoring integrity to the organization that is charged with being the official voice of
psychologists in the United States, we call for a full, independent investigation of APA leadership and
policy decisions regarding the abuse of psychological knowledge in interrogations and detention.
We, the undersigned, will no longer lend it legitimacy to the APA by being counted as members. The
American Psychological Association has left us and therefore we must resign until the organization is
prepared to put principles before power.
If you would like to learn more about these issues go to: www.ethicalapa.com
If you would like to resign from the APA and add your signature to this letter of resignation go to:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aparesignation/index.html