From: Andrew Phelps <dis_course@yahoo.com>

Subject: Re: [psysr-endtorture] Soldz, Olson, Reisner Arrigo and Welch: Torture After Dark

To: psysr-endtorture@yahoogroups.com

Date: Thursday, July 24, 2008, 8:40 AM

This is a fine post.

I put a response to it on the SOCIALJUSTICE list of the APA in support of it and adding that "learned helplessness" is not only the thinking behind the present "Gitmo" torture style, but is deeply embedded (cf.: "strategic helplessness" ) in the present APA power structure. That Seligman recognized that "treatment" can be in effect "learned helplessness indoctrination" and so (in my terms) "treatment can be torture." That he became on that account an advocate of "positive psychology" viz. learning how to overcome "learned helplessness. " My colleague at San Jose City College Dr. Potterton teaches that "positive psychology" curriculum to train the "client/survivors" who are students at SJCC.

Somehow I struck a chord, because Dr. Bruce Bonesetter, whom I gather is/was the APA Rep. for the Illinois Psychological Ass'n, responded that I am (?we are) "radical fascist bloggers."

What gives?

On Tue, 7/22/08, Stephen Soldz wrote: