The Hoffman report: The lesson we learned (?)

Abstract

In 2015, psychologists internationally were shaken by the discoveries made by D. Hoffman and his team of attorneys that demonstrated the collusion of the American Psychological Association (APA) officials with the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency, and their involvement into an ‘extensive interrogation’ programme, simply meant—torture. Resolute steps were expected from the APA as well as from the psychological community in general, and some steps were taken. This paper poses the question: have we, as a community of helping professionals around the world, really learned the lesson given by the report? Rather than give a direct answer or offer a ‘pill’ to increase ‘ethics’, this paper offers a perspective as to how it became possible and why it is still possible to become involved in the Hoffman‐like affair. It is suggested that improvement of the situation may be achieved in two ways. First, to personalise ethical codes, making them more flexible in terms of personal choice of values and action. Second, by raising awareness to the suprasituational nature of ethical deeds that encompass situational needs, goals, and motives; as well as a broader perspective for which a person bears responsibility.

How practitioners perceive ethics in psychology

“…This division lies somewhat parallel to the division between internal and external ethics offered by some authors (see, for example, Kryuchkov, 2021). Furthermore, as some authors make the division between 'community and society' as community based on 'communitas', having hermeneutics of love as the fundamental position, the presupposition on which any community action could be based, and society as 'socius' based on 'proprius'-appropriation and 'owning' the hermeneutics of suspicion (see da Frota & Fernandes, 2020;Kryuchkov, 2018;McInerney, 2016)-the division of ethics on those protecting the 'community' (society in this sense) and 'person' seems valid.…”

“…However, experience shows the contrary. For example, ethical codes have been changed by people, who, by virtue of their position in the psychological community, had to 'protect' the 'ethicity' in order to receive 'benefits' from cooperation with some agencies (see, for example, Hoffman, 2015;Kryuchkov, 2021).…”

“…The literature shows that ethics in applied psychology and psychotherapy have become a crucial topic since the beginning of the 21 st century-for example, the Hoffman report, its perception (see, for example, Kryuchkov, 2021), and the general discussion around ethical issues and ethical status of so-called operational psychology (see, for example, Staal & DeVries, 2020;Soldz et al, 2017;Williams & Kennedy, 2011).…”

“…Of special interest was research dedicated to ethics in its formal form-ethical codes. As noted previously, 'external' ethics are external in relation to the person (Kryuchkov, 2021). Many authors are considering different ethical codes, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, and some others.…”