Final answer:
The most common methods of punishing enslaved individuals included psychological threats of being sold and physical punishment such as the lash, alongside various torture devices like neck braces and leg irons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common method of punishing enslaved persons during slavery involved both psychological and physical means. Psychological coercion included threats of being sold away from family and community, which was a deeply effective and terrifying prospect for the enslaved. Physically, the lash was the most common punishment, but it had its inefficiencies as it could incapacitate or even kill the victim, making them unable to work. Slaveholders also employed various punishment devices such as neck braces, balls and chains, leg irons, and paddles designed to cause intense pain and injury. These methods aimed not just at immediate punishment, but also at maintaining a constant state of fear among the enslaved population.