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Pros And Cons Of Psychological Torture

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Each year, the number of terrorist attacks increases all around the world. The number of innocent people dying is terrifying. It seems that nearly every country has experienced the horror of having a terrorist attack. At such incidents, information plays a critical role. If security agencies had prior knowledge of these lethal attacks, hundreds of innocent lives could be spared. As a result, security agencies worldwide are employing methods they hope will reduce the number of such attacks. These methods give rise to an important question; if a terror suspect with potential information of a terrorist attack gets arrested. Would it be ethical to use torture, to get information from him? The use of torture is an unethical and inefficient method of gathering information.
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Their harm lasts long after a victim is tortured. This means that the victim will live the rest of his life with a reminder of this brutal experience. On the other hand, psychological torture leaves no physical evidence, but its harm is a lot worse than that of physical torture. Methods of psychological torture include sleep deprivation, exploitation of phobias, and sensory deprivation. “Victims of psychological torture present symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.” (Red Cross Review pp. 9) Such symptoms “cause disruption of the senses and personality.” (Red Cross Review pp. 9) Sleep deprivation, one of the methods used for torture, is when a person is kept awake for several days then brought to be interviewed. This seems illogical, as a person who is sleep deprived or placed under stress might have problems remembering certain events, or might mix up information. So the information gathered from a person who is sleep deprived will not be accurate, this means the waste of resources for security agencies since they will attempt to confirm such information only to find it

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