A key dimension of psychological science has been its potential to address major societal issues. A troubling problem that has occupied center stage since 2001 concerns the terrorism suspects detained in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Gitmo for short). U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered his advisors to find a way to dismantle the facility, and heart wrenching discussions have revolved about the ethical treatment of the detainees, their legal rights, their political status, and the repercussions of their detainment for America’s image abroad. However, the key question is whether they will re-integrate peacefully into society or return to violence and pose renewed danger.
Publication Information
Kruglanski, Arie, Michele Gelfand, and Rohan Gunaratna. 2010. "Detainee Deradicalization." Observer (January). https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/detainee-deradicalization