Do Torture, Shunning, Shaming and Humiliation Build Character?

It hasn't been a good week for psychologists. Perhaps they should stay out of matters of torture or school policy -- two realms that have far too much overlap these days. The New York Times reported this week that the American Psychological Association (APA) provided support or ethical cover to the CIA in its post-9/11 campaign of torture. The evidence, while not conclusively damning, is deeply concerning. A central figure in the assertions is University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman, a leading figure in the positive psychology field. While his role in the emerging scandal is unclear, at least one group of colleagues has presented cause for further investigation. The Coalition...