Blindfolding, Perceptual Dehumanization and Tolerance for State-Sanctioned Killing: A Theory of Illegitimate Punishment

The present work integrates cultural practices, perceptual psychology and social cognition to explore the psychological effects of blindfolding in state-sanctioned punishment. Across four studies, we demonstrate how the use of blindfolds—a seemingly minor aspect of punishment rituals—attenuates configural face processing, a change we argue alters social behaviour. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that blindfolds are associated with a tolerance for harsher punishments. Studies 3 and 4 explore the legitimacy of punitive action; findings from these studies suggest that blindfolding rituals hold the largest effect when the punishment would not be seen as legitimate. These results suggest that historically ingrained punitive rituals may subtly exploit psychological biases to shape public attitudes, offering insights into the psychological underpinnings of institutional legitimacy and societal compliance.