Torture Essay, Research Paper

Ronald D. Cretlinsten contends that torturers acquire the ability to cope with the moral dilemmas of inflicting pain upon and murdering their fellow humans primarily through the processes of ?routinization? and ?dehumanization?, and also through the notion of ?authorization? (191). With such as the case, an individual adept in the art of torture would necessarily have learned to be cruel, however, that argument neglects the very reality that many engaged in such activities are intrinsically perverse, and in fact willingly and happily do harm to others.

The prevalence of torture throughout the world can be accounted for in part by the process of ?routinization? in which a regime, in essence, desensitizes a given torturer to the atrocities that he is committing in its name. In such a process ?what is being done to someone transforms into what is being done: information gathering? (191). The task of amassing information and confessions eclipses the reality in which the torturer lives; this is achieved through peer pressure from fellow torturers ?to be a man?, by intense physical and emotional training, and through the employment of propaganda claiming that the torturer is fulfilling his duty and doing the right thing as his victims are immoral enemies of the state (192). In short, the torturer becomes disoriented and unable to decipher the actuality of his existence. This disorientation is caused by repetition, or ?habituation?, in addition to the development of the ?task-oriented frame of mind?; according to one Chilean ex-torturer ?. . . after . . . not wanting to . . . but wanting to, you start getting used to it [and there] definitely . . . comes a moment when you [no longer] feel [anything] about what you are doing? (191).

The ?dehumanization? of one?s victims does wonders to calm any qualms or misgivings an individual may experience about injuring another man. By evoking fear in the torturer and therefore, a sense of being threatened by a given enemy, the regime in power causes the torturer to feel obliged to defend against such a threat. Consequently, he will torture his fellow man to procure some valued piece of information and in doing so remove himself from a precarious position and subdue his enemies all at once. Such enemies are viewed as evil and little more than monsters. A victim is rarely referred to by his or her name or by any other humanizing characteristic, rather a victim is most often referred to as some base, nonhuman creature or beast.

The notion of ?authorization? as permitting the existence of torture is apparent in the fact that though an individual may ?theoretically, . . . [have] a choice? to refrain from such activity, ?given the situational context . . . the concept of choice is not even present?; disobedience to the dictates of authority means ?punishment, disgrace, humiliation, expulsion, or even death? (196). Therefore, one is freed from moral unease by the fact that he may feel trapped and unable to act against his superiors, as retaliation would be imminent. In some instances, as was demonstrated by Professor Milgram?s experiment which proved the willingness of individuals to harm one another if asked to do so by an authority figure, torturers simply trust that their superiors are correct in their judgments and as a result, often obey them feeling that it is their duty to do so, and that they are justified in such behaviors.

Despite the fact that these processes and notions do create skilled killing and torture machines out of men, one cannot neglect the fact that certain individuals would participate in such activities regardless. It is certain that some, perhaps due to chemical imbalances or to some past experience, relish in the activity of inflicting pain and suffering. If such individuals did not exist, one would never encounter tales on the news about murders such as Daumer or Gacy who out of their own free will tortured and killed other humans. If such persons were to inhabit a nation in which a livelihood could be earned through torture, would they not leap at the chance to do so?

Thus, torturers are made through the processes of ?routinization?, ?dehumanitization?, and ?authorization?, however, not all torturers are made; some are drawn to the occupation out of natural inclination and interest.