Though scheduled at an inopportune time (early hour of the first day of the APA Convention when most attendees are registering), an APA symposium titled "Destructive Trends in Mental Health" attracted an unusually large group. While most similarly scheduled symposia averaged between 10-15 participants, this symposium completely filled a room with a capacity of 130 with many standing.
Chaired by NARTH's President, Dr. A. Dean Byrd, the papers were presented by Past APA President, Dr. Nicholas A. Cummings, Past APA President, Dr. Frank H. Farley and former member of APA's Board of Directors, Dr. Rogers H. Wright.
Dr. Byrd introduced the symposium by referring to APA's capitulation to political correctness through the issuance of statements and resolutions without the requisite science. He noted that though scientists and professionals are not immune from political and cultural debates, that APA must rise about those influences and ensure that issued resolutions and statements be subjected to rigorous scientific review.
Dr. Byrd cited a recent conversation with a Supreme Court Justice in the State of Washington who expressed concerned that briefs from APA did not meet the required scholarly, scientific standard. This Justice declared, "How can an admitted dearth of research in a particular area allow any organization to take such positions without eroding its own science."
Dr. Byrd also referenced a discussion with a former President of the Texas Psychological Association (TPA) who faced questions from Texas Legislators regarding APA's political stands. This former TPA president feared consequences for psychology and psychologists in Texas because of APA's non-scientific positions.
Dr. Nicholas Cummings focused on the lack of democracy in APA, noting that the decisions for this national organization were made by a rotating group of 200 people who seemed to prefer idealogy and political correctness over science. He observed an erosion of the profession, most notably seen in its declining membership. He cited the article in U.S. News and World Report which listed clinical psychology among the most over-rated and least satisfying occupations.
Dr. Cummings questioned, "Why does APA continue to spend members' dues money on legislation that does nothing to curtail the precipitous decline of practice?" He questioned why APA expends funds and efforts on controversial topics like torture and the treatment of those who want to overcome same sex attraction, both of which "galvanize the general feeling of dissatisfaction that exists among the rank-and-file members outside the ruling oligarchy, itself."
Cummings stated "The first has resulted in protests and the resignation of several prominent members, while the second led to the creation of two special committees or task forces whose deliberations are, so far, shrouded in secrecy, and guarded by militancy."
Dr. Cummings concluded his paper with the following summary: "Council members spend 20% of the Council's time on political correctness, 60% on perpetuating themselves, and only 20% on psychology's business."
Dr. Wright was appalled at "the dysfunctionality of the American Psychological Association's corporate structure." In addition, he expressed grave concerns about APA's behaviors and activities in the field of advocacy.
Instead of reflecting science and demonstrable professional experience, Dr. Wright noted, "All too frequently, the 'policy' statements turn out to reflect points of view and or philosophic positions of some segment of APA's council or governance based, at best, on partial and/or manipulated data."
Dr. Wright shared several glaring examples.
The first example included APA's amicus brief which stated that 17 and 18 year olds should not be tried as adults because of intellectual immaturity. In another brief, APA declared that a 14 year old had sufficient mental maturity to make a decision to have an abortion without parental knowledge or involvement. According to Dr. Wright, this glaring, troubling discrepancy was noted by Supreme Court Justice Scalia.
Another example cited by Dr. Wright was the misuse/abuse of ethics and the ethics process. Dr. Wright noted, "...there have been repeated efforts to amend the APA "Code" so as to proscribe the offering of psychotherapeutic services in the interest of 'sexual identity change'."
Citing the inappropriateness of such political efforts along with the dearth of any research to support such efforts, Dr. Wright focused on likely actions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if APA continued in such directions. According to Dr. Wright, APA has been previously warned by the FTC about such misguided efforts.
Dr. Wright noted, "Yet despite this history, no apparent effort was made by APA governance to deny access to the agenda, nor to rule these manifestly political efforts to proscribe sexual identity change therapy 'out of order'."
Dr. Wright ended his presentation with the question, "Is there a psychologist in the house who specializes in the treatment of sanctimonious, self righteous political correctness. If so, your organization desperately needs your services."
As the discussant, Dr. Frank Farley responded to both presentations. He supported both presenters' observation that APA was spending a huge amount of time on issues that were more controversial, more politically correct and more tangential to APA such as torture and treatment for unwanted same-sex attraction.
"Regarding torture", Dr. Farley asked, "Why not simply support the Geneva Convention?"
And regarding treatment for unwanted same-sex attraction, Dr. Farley noted that psychology focuses on individuals who are distressed--and when combined with client self-determination, the answer for providing psychological care for those distressed by unwanted homosexual attractions is clear: yes.
Dr. Farley noted that APA should give the widest possible hearing to Dr. Cummings' concern about APA's preoccupation with political correctness, and should instead focus efforts on the decline in psychological practice.
He analogously questioned, "Is APA fiddling while Rome burns?"
Dr. Farley advises, "Practitioners need to arise and fully debate" the issues regarding practice. He noted that if we ignore Dr. Cumming's concerns, we do so at "our peril."
Regarding Dr. Wright's paper, Dr. Farley agrees with Wright: "Political correctness has no place in the Ethics Code." He concluded that the recent attempts to proscribe therapy aimed at sexual identity change is a misuse of the ethics process.
"The Ethics Code", Farley noted, has become somewhat of a "growth industry" and he warned that APA members must be vigilant in ensuring that the Code does not expand into issues and areas which are inappropriate.
Dr. Farley offered the following summary statement: we must exercise "eternal vigilance, questioning and skepticism over APA deliberations."