Manipulations of perceived social rank affect the decision to engage in coercive interrogation.

This article focuses on a study examining how the social rank of individuals recommending interrogation methods influences people's endorsement of torture. The research found that recommendations from high-ranking individuals significantly increased participants' support for severely coercive interrogation methods, while recommendations from low-ranking individuals had no significant effect. Additionally, participants' moral stances influenced their choices, but the authority of the recommender outweighed personal morality. These findings highlight the impact of authority on decisions related to torture, suggesting that high-ranking individuals’ opinions can override individual ethical considerations. The study is based on a preprint that has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]