When History Lies: Part Two

Robert Fettgather is a counselor, educator, writer and activist residing in Grass Valley, California. He holds a doctorate in psychology and master degrees in both psychology and education. Robert Fettgather has served as Special Consultant in psychometrics to the Departments of Education and Developmental Disabilities for the State of California. He holds a specialist credential in learning handicapped and community college credentials in both learning and developmental disabilities.

Part One of this essay focused on misrepresentations of History described by James W. Loewen. A second set of misrepresentations shall be explored here relating to the subject of Psychology. Three examples will be reviewed: Watson's Little Albert experiment, the misrepresentation of the serotonin hypothesis in depression, and the APA scandal over torture at Guantanamo Bay involving psychologists Mitchell and Jessen.

The Little Albert experiment, conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920, is a well-known study in psychology. It is often cited as a foundational experiment demonstrating classical conditioning in humans.  Textbooks frequently describe the experiment as successfully conditioning a young boy, Albert, to fear a white rat by pairing the rat with a loud noise. This fear supposedly generalized to other white, furry objects.

Subsequent investigations have revealed ethical and methodological issues with the study. Albert's real identity was never confirmed, and there is evidence suggesting he may have had neurological impairments, which Watson and Rayner did not account for. Furthermore, the long-term effects of the experiment on Albert's mental health were never properly assessed. These factors seem to undermine the validity and ethical integrity of the study.

The serotonin hypothesis has been a dominant explanation for depression, suggesting that a deficiency in serotonin levels in the brain leads to depressive symptoms. Many psychology courses and popular sources present the serotonin hypothesis as a definitive and comprehensive explanation for depression, often implying that antidepressant medications directly correct this imbalance.

Recent research has challenged the simplicity of the serotonin hypothesis. Depression is now understood to be a multifactorial condition involving complex interactions between genetics, environment, and various neurotransmitter systems. The effectiveness of antidepressants is not solely attributable to their impact on serotonin levels, and some studies have questioned their efficacy compared to placebos.

Lastly, consider that the American Psychological Association (APA) faced a major scandal involving its complicity in torture practices at Guantanamo Bay, particularly concerning the roles of psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen. Yet, some psychology education materials might downplay the extent of ethical violations or present the involvement of psychologists in torture as isolated incidents.

An independent review revealed that the APA colluded with the Department of Defense to ensure that ethical guidelines would not interfere with the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, which are widely considered torture. Mitchell and Jessen, both trained psychologists, played central roles in developing and implementing these techniques, which included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and other forms of psychological torture.

Both history and psychology have their fair share of myths and misconceptions perpetuated through education. By critically examining and debunking these myths, as demonstrated through the examples from James Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me and key misrepresentations in psychology, we can foster a more accurate and nuanced understanding of these fields