Torture as a means to punish the citizen has been reserved for offences posing severe threat to the social fabric (for example, treason).The administration of torture on bodies othered by the cultural narrative, those observed as not full members of society : 101–121[AD1]  met a resurgence in the 20th century, possibly due to the heightened warfare. : 101–121[AD2] Many cultures use painful ritual practices as a catalyst for psychological transformation. The use of pain to transition to a cleansed and purified state is seen in Catholic self-flagellation practices, or personal catharsis in neo-primitive body suspension experiences.Beliefs about pain play an important role in sporting cultures. Pain may be viewed positively, exemplified by the no pain, no gain attitude, with pain seen as an essential part of training. Sporting culture tends to normalise experiences of pain and injury and celebrate athletes who play hurt.Pain has psychological, social, and physical dimensions, and is greatly influenced by cultural factors. Non-humans
René Descartes argued that animals lack consciousness and therefore do not experience pain and suffering in the way that humans do. Bernard Rollin of Colorado State University, the principal author of two U.S. federal laws regulating pain relief for animals, wrote that researchers remained unsure into the 1980s as to whether animals experience pain, and that veterinarians trained in the U.S. before 1989 were simply taught to ignore animal pain. The ability of invertebrate species of animals, such as insects, to feel pain and suffering is unclear.Specialists believe that all vertebrates can feel pain, and that certain invertebrates, like the octopus, may also.
In patients who possess language but are incapable of expressing themselves effectively, such as those with dementia, an increase in confusion or display of aggressive behaviors or agitation may signal that discomfort exists, and further assessment is necessary. Changes in behavior may be noticed by caregivers who are familiar with the persons normal behavior.Infants do feel pain, but lack the language needed to report it, and so communicate distress by crying. A non-verbal pain assessment should be conducted involving the parents, who will notice changes in the infant which may not be obvious to the health care provider. Pre-term babies are more sensitive to painful stimuli than those carried to full term.Another approach, when pain is suspected, is to give the person treatment for pain, and then watch to see whether the suspected indicators of pain subside. Other reporting barriers
The way in which one experiences and responds to pain is related to sociocultural characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, and age. An aging adult may not respond to pain in the same way that a younger person might. Their ability to recognize pain may be blunted by illness or the use of medication. Depression may also keep older adult from reporting they are in pain. Decline in self-care may also indicate the older adult is experiencing pain.