Dr. Christian Buckland, Chairman of the Board of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, has written an open letter to Installed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemning the use of unethical psychological techniques and behavioural science on the unknowing and non-consenting UK public.
Among numerous harms caused by the use of psychological techniques to increase fear, shame and guilt is that it “materially undermined, if not removed, the UK population’s ability to give valid informed consent to taking a covid-19 vaccine.”
“I propose that there be an immediate cessation of the use of all behavioural science techniques designed to elicit feelings of fear, shame and guilt used by the Government pending an urgent, open and independent inquiry.”
The following letter was originally published by The Daily Sceptic under the title ‘State Covid Propaganda Destroyed Public’s Ability to Consent to Vaccines – Chairman of UK Council for Psychotherapy’
28 April 2023
Dear Prime Minister,
I am the Chairman of the Board of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), one of the UK’s foremost psychological governing bodies. However, I write this open letter in my own capacity. I believe I have a professional obligation to write to you in an attempt to protect the public from any further harm caused by the unethical application of psychological research and practice.
I unreservedly condemn the UK Government’s use of unethical psychological techniques intended to elicit feelings of fear, shame and guilt, under the guise of behavioural science and insights which were designed to change the public’s behaviour without their knowledge and conscious participation. It is now clear that in 2020 the UK Government deliberately chose to artificially inflate the level of fear within the UK population by exaggerating the risk factors of COVID-19, and concomitantly downplaying the protective factors. We also witnessed the Government’s promotion of social disapproval and guilt messaging. These techniques were embedded into a multi-channel, coordinated public health campaign designed to change the public’s behaviour without their knowledge. Moreover, in tandem with the mainstream media, the Government also proactively suppressed, censored and ostracised any healthcare professional or scientist who suggested alternative responses to COVID-19, or who simply questioned the messaging and measures being implemented by the Government.
Evidence of the recommendation of using unethical psychological techniques to gain behavioural change
The Government document titled ‘Options for increasing adherence to social distancing measures’ was written for the Government by the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) which is a subgroup of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
The premise of the document was to provide options for changing the behaviour of the UK public without their knowledge. A passage within this document states: “A substantial number of people still do not feel sufficiently personally threatened.” It makes certain recommendations including:
Read More: Open letter from Chairman of the Board of the UK Council for Psychotherapy to Rishi Sunak
