A psychological punishment is a type of punishment that relies not or only in secondary order on the actual harm inflicted (such as corporal punishments or fines) but on psychological effects, mainly emotions, such as fear, shame and guilt. This can occasionally cause severe cardiac harm, even death, but those are not strictly intended, and in the case of torture accidental death would even defeat the purpose.^{[citation needed]} Psychological punishments that are particularly cruel or severe may be considered psychological torture. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Very common is the use of shame through private or, especially, public humiliation. Public humiliation was often used by local communities to punish minor and petty criminals before the age of large, modern prisons (imprisonment was long unusual as a punishment, rather a method of coercion). ...

For example, publicly shaving a woman’s head not only humiliates her in front of those who witness her shearing, it also deprives her of her hair for as long as it takes to grow back, thus serving as a continual reminder of her punishment and her humiliation.

A strictly fear-inducing method is the mock execution, a form of 'virtual' torture. Various threats operate on the same fear-inducing principle. The use of blindfolds and the like also integrate such an element in other punishments. A mock execution is a method of torture, whereby the subject is made to believe that he is being led to his execution. ...

Another is indirect torture, which preys on the victims affection for and loyalty to a partner, relative, friend, comrade in arms et cetera, whose real pain induces vicarious suffering in the targeted psychological victim, who is thus loaded with guilt but spared physical harm that might endanger his ability to comply.

See also

• Psychology of torture
• Parading on donkey

N'SYNC CDs are a common form of psychological torture. For further torture, play Justin Timberlakes solo CDs. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Parading on donkey is a punishment in rural areas of India. ...