Inferences and Consequences

Abstract

would be ineffective (compared to 10% for liberals). The authors conclude with considerations about how persuadable people are regarding torture. They did not find great cause for optimism for those of us who would like to persuade people that torture is immoral and inefficacious. A maximum of 25% of people are persuadable—not insignificant—but it is much easier to convince them to wrongly embrace the efficacy of torture than persuade them of the truth! Again, some people endorsed torture even when told it would not work, and support for torture also increased when respondents were shown prompts of effective noncoercive interrogation. Other scholars have shown people tend to “double down” on false beliefs when presented contrary evidence when those beliefs are tied up with their identity. For some, willingness to torture may well be one of those beliefs, tied up in some people’s notions of patriotism, toughness, and resoluteness. In all, this short book makes a unique and enlightening addition to the torture debate.