If they're native Amercians then there used to be a common cultural belief that by scaliping someone or being scalped you could not enter heaven. It is the ultimate disrepect to someone by scalping them. Only it used to be that dead people were scalped!
"BOISE, Idaho — A woman was arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery after Marianne Dahle, 26, allegedly used a 4-inch knife to cut away a 6-by-8-inch crown and back of the scalp of the 16-year-old victim, apparently as punishment for disrespectful behavior toward women"