How Organizational Hunger May Have Contributed to the American Psychological Association's Scandal Over the Ethics of...

The recent scandal over the American Psychological Association's (APA) change in ethical policy on torture has been reported by journalists and by a team led by an independent reviewer, a former federal prosecutor. Additional observations have been provided by current and former APA leaders and members at large posting on the APA website. There seems to be a consensus that the APA, through a corruptive subgroup, colluded with the United States Government to change the APA ethical standards to provide cover for the Department of Defense's "enhanced interrogation" of suspected terrorists. Examining the flawed decision-making process through a group dynamics lens, the author examines the extent to which corruptive motives and manipulative (if not deceptive) practices led to collusion and a policy inconsistent with APA values and mission. He also offers recommendations to other professional organizations as to how to avoid corruptogenic group processes.