Warning: The following article contains graphic descriptions of torture methods and their effects. This content is for informational purposes only and does not endorse or encourage any form of violence or abuse.

What Is Torture?

Torture is the deliberate infliction of physical and psychological suffering on an individual. It is most commonly used to:

• Extract information
• Impose severe punishment
• Break a person’s will

The methods of torture are typically chosen based on the intended goal, available time, resources, limits of acceptability, and the subject’s initial condition. It’s important to note that adrenaline released during torture can damage the heart. If there is ample time, gradually increasing psychological pressure combined with physical pain is considered more effective and “humane.” When time is short, brute physical force is often used.

Human Response to Pain

• Some groups and individuals (such as certain ethnicities and hardened criminals) may have a higher pain threshold, while others (like people from northern regions or those with light features) may be more sensitive.
• People who are sociable tend to handle pain better than those who are solitary.
• Castrated individuals and drug addicts (when not under the influence) experience pain more acutely.
• Astrological signs are mentioned: Sagittarius and Leo fear pain, while Capricorn tends to ignore it.
• Strong emotions (grief, hatred, sexual arousal) can dull pain.
• Anticipation of pain increases sensitivity, especially in fearful individuals.
• Severe pain is easily and vividly remembered, and is felt most intensely at night, less during the day, and least in the evening.
• Highly sensitive areas include: tooth pulp, eyeballs, underarms, eyelids, collarbones, and groin.
• Stimulants (like intravenous caffeine) and some drugs (psilocybin, cannabinol extract) can intensify pain.
• Repeatedly showing torture devices and describing the process can increase psychological distress.
• Sometimes, torturing a loved one is more effective than torturing the subject directly.
• Signs of severe pain include clenched teeth, screams, bulging eyes, flared nostrils, heavy sweating, and circulatory or respiratory distress. Pupil dilation is a more reliable indicator of real suffering than screaming.
• Torture must be carefully dosed; if the subject loses consciousness, the process becomes pointless. Cold water or stimulants may be used to revive them.

Common Torture Methods

Beating

Beating is the most common method of inflicting pain. It can be done with objects that leave no marks (rubber hose, sand-filled sock), or by covering the victim with a mattress and kicking them. A book may be placed on the head and struck. Leather gloves with a lead weight can intensify punches. Cruder beatings use wooden sticks, steel rods, or pipes, often to cause lasting injury. Whips, chains, and other specialized tools can inflict severe pain and injury. After such beatings, wounds may be treated with alcohol or salt to increase pain.

Target areas include the cheekbone, around the eyes, nose, chin, and teeth-painful but not usually fatal. Avoid the back of the head and base of the skull, as blows here can be deadly. Ribs and collarbones are very painful and easily broken. Blows to the abdomen, kidneys, solar plexus, or liver can cause organ rupture and death from internal bleeding. Joints and shins are highly sensitive, and fingers can be crushed with a hammer.

Breath Restriction

Restricting breathing without causing unconsciousness is extremely distressing. Common methods include dunking the face in water for about 30 seconds, or placing a plastic bag over the head. These methods leave a lasting psychological impact.

Use of Natural Elements

Historically, the Chinese were known for their inventive torture methods, such as tying victims to bamboo shoots that would eventually pierce the body. More practical methods include whipping the genitals with fresh nettles, causing intense pain and swelling. Ants or mosquitoes can be used by tying the victim to an anthill or exposing them in a damp forest. Starving rats may be placed on the victim’s abdomen or genitals under a container.

Thermal Torture

Burning is a simple and effective method. Lit cigarettes can be pressed against the face, eyes, hands, chest, nipples, neck, or genitals. Gas lighters can be used to burn fingers or hair. A hot iron placed on the abdomen can cause severe burns and even death from shock, though most victims will talk before this point. Burning rags or inserting hot objects into body cavities are also used. Explosives or detonators may be inserted into the body to threaten the victim.

Soldering irons can be used for both burning and penetrating tissue, targeting the face, neck, nipples, abdomen, buttocks, genitals, inner thighs, and joints.

Chemical Agents

Certain chemicals cause intense irritation, suffocation, or burning. Ether, battery acid, concentrated salt solution, or even milk can be injected under the nails, into the scrotum, or under the skin, causing severe pain and inflammation. Succinylcholine (Ditilin) can be injected to paralyze muscles while the victim remains conscious, causing terror and suffocation. Clonidine can be injected to simulate poisoning, causing dizziness and collapse; the “antidote” is caffeine and cordiamine. Ammonia solution causes sharp pain when inhaled. “Finalgon” ointment or cayenne pepper can cause severe burning when applied to sensitive areas.

Electric Shock

Electricity is a modern addition to torture. Adjustable transformers (15-220V) can be used with electrodes attached to various body parts. Portable generators, stun guns, or even exposed wires can deliver shocks. The duration and intensity must be carefully controlled to avoid death. Sometimes a metal bucket is placed on the head and electrified, amplifying the victim’s screams and pain. After electric torture, muscle and joint pain and heart rhythm disturbances are common.

Needle Torture

Needles, pins, sharpened sticks, or wires can be inserted under the nails or into muscles, causing intense pain and infection. Muscles, scrotum, penis, and eyeballs are particularly sensitive. Fishhooks may be inserted and then pulled out with pliers. Drills can be used to bore into hands or feet. Hands and feet may be nailed to wooden surfaces to immobilize the victim.

Cuts

Razor blades or sharp knives can be used to make cuts, especially on the face, chest, or abdomen, causing heavy bleeding and panic. Skin may be peeled off after cutting, and wounds treated with salt or acid to intensify pain.

Crushing

Crushing causes slowly increasing, controllable pain. Fingers may be slammed in a door, squeezed in a vise, or pinched with pliers. Wet leather straps can be placed on fingers and allowed to dry, tightening painfully. Crushing the genitals causes extreme helplessness and deep pain.

The Rack

This ancient device involves tying the victim’s hands behind their back and hoisting them by a rope over a beam, dislocating the shoulders. Pulling the victim’s legs downward increases the pain.

Mutilation

Used to punish, humiliate, or break resistance. Actions include cutting off ears, nose, tongue, fingers, scrotum, penis, or nipples; piercing eardrums; or gouging out eyes.

Methods of Coping with Torture

Ways to endure pain during torture include:

• Focusing attention on the pain and trying to intensify it (“burning out the nerve”)
• Focusing on a parallel stimulus (biting down on something)
• Triggering strong emotions (rage, hatred) to block pain signals
• Mentally or physically disconnecting from pain (meditation, hitting one’s head against a wall)
• Entering a trance-like state to “leave” the body
• Psychologically transforming oneself into an object insensitive to pain (like a stone or cloud)