Torture
Torture
Torture (/ˈtɔːrtʃər/; from Latin tortura "twisting, tormenting") is the act of deliberately inflicting severe physical or psychological suffering on someone by another as a punishment or in order to fulfill some desire of the torturer or force some action from the victim. Torture, by definition, is a knowing and intentional act; deeds which unknowingly or negligently inflict suffering or pain, without a specific intent to do so, are not typically considered torture.
Etymology
The term torture is derived from the Latin tortura and originally referred to the physical punishment. The Romans used it to translate the Greek basanos, which etymologically indicated a test of the quality of precious metals by rubbing them on a touchstone. Later, it came to have the broader sense of the test of guilt or innocence by the infliction of various, often cruel, techniques of pain.
Types of Torture
Torture can be classified into three main types: physical, psychological, and pharmacological.
- Physical torture is the infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person's body. This can include methods such as beating, electric shocks, stretching, or waterboarding.
- Psychological torture involves the use of non-physical methods to cause mental or emotional suffering. Its effects are often long-term and can be more devastating than physical torture. Techniques can include isolation, threats, humiliation, mock executions, and witnessing the torture of others.
- Pharmacological torture involves the use of drugs to induce pain or alter a person's consciousness. This can include the administration of hallucinogens, sedatives, or paralytics.
Legal Status
Torture is considered to be a violation of human rights and is declared to be unacceptable by Article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Signatories of the Third Geneva Convention and Fourth Geneva Convention officially agree not to torture prisoners of war; this includes both physical and mental torture.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Torture
- Wikipedia's article - Torture
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