what is the history of torture compared to modern times?

Answer 1

Essentially it is unchanged... The same results are desired and the targets on a physical and psychological level are about the same. The difference is that torture methods today are more precise and efficient thanks to our knowledge of human anatomy and medicine we can literally apply every life saving procedure maneuver and mechanism to have an opposite effect or tweak any of them to carry out any form of torture.

The unfortunate reality is that the torture methods while efficient do not provide for an accurate of precise result. The goal is to disorient and generally that works out. That turns out bad for people hoping to extract information, because the victims psyche has been contorted and capacity to differentiate reality from surrealistic qualities is compromised. The recall of information and the ability to relay it is greatly reduced but in the long run the goal of the victim is to do what he is told so that he does not have to endure it.

So he does it to the best of his ability and that proficiency is compromised by the physiological damage he has incurred he is in survival mode but is mentally instable.

Espionage would be a more effective means of extracting info but the risk is too high and costly, so most militant factions resort to the next best thing as long the situation doesn't expose the victims to an opportunity to regain stability or be rescued.

example: American military at Guantanamo; USA concentration camps set up for the Japanese in California in WWII; Jewish Concentration camps curfews and imagery exploited by the Germans in WWII; Japanese method of torture and isolationism at the camps they established for POW's in WWII; Ancient Roman public displays of traitor tortures; Each of the Crusades initiated by the Catholic Cult; The Inquisition.

Answer 2

Historically, torture was rarely used to gain information. Most of the time, it was simply part of the punishment you could expect from the state. The Romans probably gave torture a new meaning with crucifixion. The victim, already in pain from being nailed to a pole shaped like a "t" or and "X",had to push against the nail(s) in the feet to keep from suffocating. When that got too painful, the victim collapsed (hanging painfully from the wrists) until he/she started to suffocate again. many victims lasted like this for several days until they were too exhausted to support themselves for air and then died.

In the Middle Ages, they came up with many ingenious ways to inflict pain. A good torturer could keep the victim at a pain level just below the threshold where they would pass out for hours. We're all familiar with the wrack, the Iron Maiden, flayed alive, and others but here are some interesting ones:

The boot: victim inserts foot into a tight boot of wood or metal. On the side is a screw that tightens against the ankle bone slowly and painfully crushing it.

There is a device that looks like a rake. It was inserted under the victims knee cap and used to rip it off.

The Anal Pear was usually inserted into the victim's rectum. Once inside, it could be twisted to open and pretty much shred the lower colon.

Throughout this time period, torture was primarily used to punish. I'm not sure when it made the transition to exact information.

Modern torture while using physical pain and deprivation has become more sophisticated by including psychological torture. The Soviets would leave prisoners in cold cells with no blankets. They would also leave lights on and wake people up if they fell asleep depriving them of REM sleep.

The US blared rock music endlessly at Noriega's compound in Panama to drive him to surrender.

Information extraction from torture is now recognized as being unrealiable. After a certain point, the victim will merely say what the torturers want to hear to make the pain stop even if it is not true. I suspect that if we continue to slide back toward barbarity, torture will once again become used merely to make a point by the state.

Answer 3

Sadly, torture is a major problem internationally at the present time.

Methods of torture have become more "sophisticated" in modern times, for instance by the greater use of psychological as opposed to physical torture. But I don't think people are very interested in the history of torture when it is being done to them

Two organisations that campaign against torture are:-
Amnesty International:-
http://www.amnesty.org
Medical Campaign for the Care of Victims of Torture:-
http://www.torturecare.org.uk

I hope you will look up these websites for more information and that you will support their causes.

Answer 4

The basic aim of torture hasnt changed although some of the methods have. Primarily torture is and always has been used to break an enemy or opponent physically, mentally and spiritually. Usually the aim is to extract some key information or other important facts from them. It has also been used as a deterrent. By subjecting someone to torture you discourage others from holding out or commiting similar crimes. The methods of torture have changed to a degree with technology. What used to take 2 days to extract from a victim by beatings now takes an hour by using drugs. Torture techniques are so varied and numerous as to be impossible to list. Suffice it to say none are pleasant and in the hands of skilled torturers are highly effective. All nations including our own have used and some continue to use torture to this day. The "art" of torture now frequently refered to as "intense interrogation" is not one of Mans more glorious accomplishments.

Answer 5

I had a book titled "The History of Torture". It has too many methods to list here. It forgot a few, e,g, a modern one could be to have one's eyes held open and head held in place before a TV set while Oprah Winfrey is on. That is worse than what Edward Longshanks inflicted upon William Wallace. If they had TV then, Ed may've tried my method. There is also driving around and playing rap music loudly. It should be justifiable homicide to kill people who practice such inhuman torture upon everyone for two or three blocks around them.

Answer 6

Methods are much more sophisticated nowadays. It's not just pulling teeth, finger and toe nails or beating someone on the soles of their feet. There's a full range of chemical weapons available and you can submit people to 100's of decibels of heavy metal or whatever.
The only difference is that we have a United Nations Convention, which is worth sweet f.a.

Answer 7

it extremely is my theory that there replaced into on no account a individual referred to as Christ. The thoughts of the area, which is composed of previous myths from whilst Jews lived in Egypt, have been compiled at the same time and all given the "Jesus" subject to tie them at the same time. From there the thoughts have been re-written, translated, and skewed in to what we've immediately. pondering there isn't any information, of God, Jesus, or the huge unfavorable events from the Bible, i could say Occam's Razor could ultimate be utilized to discover the fact.

Answer 8

There's always been torture the only difference is in the media reporting.

Answer 9

well as far as I know they aren't still boiling people in oil or molten lead, so yeah...I think torture has come a long way = P

Answer 10

Torture shouldnt be history, they should bring it back and use it on all the a**eholes in the UK