Post-lethal violence in intentionally recorded homicides: Torture, mutilation, and death in Brazilian organized crime

This study analyses social influence processes in the perpetration of intentionally registered homicides (IRH). The sample comprises 17 cases documented in naturalistic settings (open sources, primarily electronic newspapers), non-controlled settings, in which individuals give degrading treatment to their victims before killing them. The cases included official documentary sources, amateur videos, and journalistic reports. Adopting a multi-methodological approach, this research utilizes netnography, descriptive-narrative techniques, and content analysis to examine the specificity of these phenomena. The findings provide evidence of potent group processes, including a heightened sense of belonging and the maintenance of criminal status. These dynamics facilitate a profound dehumanization of victims—viewed as outgroup members or dissidents—allowing for extreme aggression. Furthermore, this study introduces the concept of "post-lethal violence," arguing that the audiovisual recording transforms the murder into a continuum, causing ongoing deleterious effects for the victims' families and society. These results suggest that the "spectacularization of death" functions as a psychological tool for intimidation and group cohesion within organized crime.