Friday, June 22, 2012

New Report on Torture

CIRI Co-Director David L. Richards, Mandy M. Morrill (Valparaiso University) and Mary R. Anderson (University of Tampa) have published a new report in the Nordic Journal of Human Rights on the origins of US attitudes towards torture. Among the findings are that while US citizens are largely opposed to "torture", generally, they at the same time are acceptant of a wide range of torture techniques when asked about them, individually. Also found are that previous exposure to violence is related to one's attitudes towards torture and those most acceptant of spanking as an appropriate punishment for a misbehaved child are most acceptant of torture. The report can be read here: