The Upside of Preventing Torture
Darius Rejali discusses the ironic upside of acknowledging that most people are capable of torture under certain circumstances. By creating clear rules, punishment, and regular monitoring, it becomes relatively easy to prevent torture. Rejali emphasizes that these changes are within our control and can be implemented by governments and local communities.In this clip
From this podcast

On Being with Krista Tippett
[Unedited] Darius Rejali with Krista Tippett
Related Questions
If we can't forget traumatic events but can modify our emotional responses to them, can the changes to a person's character following an event also be reversed or altered? For example, if someone who was once very positive and engaging returns from war or suffers the loss of a parent/spouse and becomes guarded and distant, how much of our 'character' is malleable? Or can people truly become 'stuck in their ways'? This question relates to the episode "Unstressable with Robert Sapolsky - Revealing Humanity's Inner Workings" and the clip "Defining Moments." It also relates to the episode \[365: Benjamin Hardy | How to Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs]{sid=doc\_1019} and the clip \[Transformative Life Changes]{sid=chunk\_35516}.
If we can't forget traumatic events but can modify our emotional responses to them, can the changes to a person's character following an event also be reversed or altered? For example, if someone who was once very positive and engaging returns from war or suffers the loss of a parent/spouse and becomes guarded and distant, how much of our 'character' is malleable? Or can people truly become 'stuck in their ways'? This question relates to the episode Unstressable with Robert Sapolsky - Revealing Humanity's Inner Workings and the clip Defining Moments. It also relates to the episode \[365: Benjamin Hardy | How to Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs]{sid=doc\_1019} and the clip \[Transformative Life Changes]{sid=chunk\_35516}.
If we can't forget traumatic events but can modify our emotional response to past events, can the changes to a person's character following an event also be reversed or altered? For example, if someone who was once very positive and engaging returns from war or suffers the loss of a parent/spouse and becomes guarded and distant, how much of our 'character' is malleable? Or can people truly become 'stuck in their ways'? This question relates to the episode Unstressable with Robert Sapolsky - Revealing Humanity's Inner Workings and the clip Defining Moments. It also relates to the episode \[365: Benjamin Hardy | How to Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs]{sid=doc\_1019} and the clip \[Transformative Life Changes]{sid=chunk\_35516}.