careful to circumvent

[5h]

The prisoner must undergo additional internal conflict when strong
feelings of guilt are aroused within him. As any clinical psychologist
is aware, it is not at all difficult to create such feelings. Military
servicemen are particularly vulnerable. No one can morally justify kill-
ing even in wartime. The usual justification is on the grounds of neces-
sity or self-defense. The interrogator is careful to circumvent such
justification. He keeps the interrogation directed toward the prisoner's
moral code. Every moral vulnerability is exploited by incessant
question-
ing along this line until the prisoner begins to question the very fun-
damentals of his own value-system. The prisoner must constantly fight a
potential breakdown. He finds that his mind is "going blank" for longer
and longer periods of time. He can not think constructively. If he is
to maintain any semblance of psychological integrity, he must bring to
an end this state of interminable internal conflict. He signifies a
willingness to write a confession.