Religious traditions celebrate self-mutilation and self-flagellation as proof of devotion—believers beat themselves bloody, whip themselves, pierce their fingers and cheeks—which is psychiatrically suspect as a sign of psychosis in non-religious contexts but is sanctioned and celebrated in religious ones.

normativepending

Speaker

Robert Sapolsky

Evidence Quote

Self-mutilation is way up on the list of a troublesome sign for somebody with elements of psychosis. Self-mutilation in these religious settings is sanctioned, condoned, celebrated, where people will particularly celebrate the folks who are most good at it.

Source

31. Religious Belief by Robert SapolskyStanford School of Humanities and Sciences
Created: 8/12/2026, 5:59:56 PM

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