Abstract
In the light of the US Senate Intelligence Committee Report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s detention and interrogation program confirming the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” to induce “learned helplessness” in detainees, this chapter reviews the scientific basis for the US definition of torture and its interpretation in the “Torture Memos.” These memoranda clearly indicate that “enhanced interrogation techniques” are designed for use in combination with specific intent to induce learned helplessness. Abundant research evidence shows that learned helplessness is mental harm that is severe enough to qualify as torture even by US standards. Although the US definition of torture seems to create potential loopholes for impunity, it suffers from certain logical inconsistencies, scientifically unfounded assumptions, and perhaps even “loopholes” that may well render legal cover for use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” difficult, if not impossible—at least not possible in a way that can be justified by logical reasoning or scientific evidence.
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