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 SapolskyEvidence 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.”
Created: 8/12/2026, 5:59:56 PM
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