"which social engineering attack sends a personalized message to high-ranking individuals"

The social engineering attack that sends a personalized message to high ranking individuals is phising, this type of method sends message to a person with a message that involves of having to gain something from the individual that they sent it to. 

The social engineering attack that sends a personalized message to high ranking individuals is called "Whaling"

Explanation:

Social engineering involves manipulating people psychologically to do certain things. The intention may be to cause them to make security mistakes and leak sensitive and confidential information.

Whaling, also known as "whaling phising", is a form of social engineering attack that targets high level employees or executives to trick them into leaking sensitive information or committing fraudulent activities.

answer; cultural trait;

it depends on which society you are referring to. many civilization performed rituals so the gods would with their growing season but the most well known is that of the aztecs. they would make sacrifices, usually animals, but sometimes humans as well.