Jun 27, 2007 -- Do modern-day interrogation techniques violate human rights? And are these techniques effective? A conference celebrating Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology’s 50th anniversary, “War, Torture, and Terror: The Role of Psychology,” explored these timely questions with three presentations by experts in the field on June 22. An audience of more than 100 psychology professionals, students, faculty, and media representatives gathered at the Geraldine Schottenstein Center on Yeshiva University’s Beren Campus to hear the keynote speakers talk about the role of psychologists in relation to such topical issues as the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and the situation at Abu Ghraib. Shara Sand ’93F, PsyD, assistant clinical professor of psychology at Ferkauf, set the stage with a discussion of the modern history of coercive interrogation. After defining the dual purpose of torture—“to instill fear and to inflict pain”—Dr. Sand described the development of torture experiments in the US in the 20th century, specifically naming secret projects funded by the CIA and the Office of Naval Research. She also identified the forefathers of torture studies—Stanley Milgram, Donald Hebb, George Estabrooks, among others—and their association with government-sponsored psychological experiments. Michael Gelles ’87F, PsyD, a consultant based in Washington, DC, and former chief psychologist at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, spoke about the professional and ethical aspects of psychology in the global war on terror. He focused on the evolution of psychology during times of war and the functions of psychologists vis-à-vis national security. Dr. Gelles discouraged the use of coercion in interrogation, saying, “We need a rapport-based approach with the goal of eliciting accurate information.” Leonard Rubenstein, JD, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights, explored the subject of complicity. He outlined the procedures the government uses to encourage psychologists to play a role in torture. These range from basic actions, such as making torture legal, to more complex mechanisms, including creating euphemisms to persuade psychologists that it is "safe, ethical, and effective,” Rubenstein said. Workshops in the afternoon covered a broad range of topics, including homophobic persecution, Holocaust survivors, and war crimes. Diana Wall, a counselor at Howard University who traveled to the conference from Washington DC, said, “I am interested in trauma and the effects of victims of trauma, and this conference helped me gain a broader understanding of these areas.”