RE: Psychology Addict # 58 | Punishment – An Overview Through the Lens of Psychology.

Hello dear @owasco :)

Please let me first tell you how much respect I have for people who stop to consider the possibility that they might not be getting something entirely right! :) Thank you for asking this question (it says a lot about a person):

Am I reading your post right?

There are indeed many studies that have repeatedly demonstrated that punishment (the punishment in these studies all have to do with financial penalties) does increase cooperation among group members (If you have time, you can follow the reference links I provided throughout the article to check this further :)). They show that when there is a possibility to be punished people act in less individualistic manner.

My personal opinion, nevertheless, is that punishment on its own doesn't do the trick. Instead, the process by which individuals identify with and absorb their local community's rules and norms does. This is what I say:

I follow the notion which proposes that it’s the process of socialization rather than punishment itself that prevents offenses from taking place.

I also state the following. Agreeing with sociologists that propose that the police force is not what prevents hell from breaking loose.

Modern sociologists agree, for instance, that it is socialization which mostly brings law and order about, not the police force ref.. I am with them.

Further, I also highlight the fact that despite studies having shown that in-group cooperation increases with the possibility of being punished. Punishment in itself is flawed. Because it doesn't really guide the target towards the right direction. It only; well .. punishes it :/

And that is in part due to the fact that punishment mostly informs individuals about what not to do, and often fails to guide offenders towards the behaviour that is desired by the community or society.

So, this lives social environments in a bit of a pickle! But only because they don't properly and thoroughly socialite their members. This is a process that can take place in a household, in a neighborhood and even here on Steemit. For example, you mentioned downvotes in your comment.

I read on a previous post of yours, titled Value:

I am considering writing an unhappy puppy post about the fork in my back, but I fear retribution by downvote. What is this witchery? It's not right.

Of course it's not right! But, the way I see it is that the whole downvote exists in this platform because Steemit is not yet an environment sophisticated enough to provide a foundation on which all its members can build self-concept, an identity. That is why there is so much abuse going on (plagiarism, bidbot abuse and so forth). Unfortunately punishing people is the way that whoever makes the decisions found to try to rebuilt cooperation and prevent people from taking advantage of the system.

This decision is a flawed one because now, people can just go on downvoting others willy-nilly. There is no cost to themselves. This allows vengeance and intimidation to take place in this platform. Of course this is not right. Just as you said.

Am I saying that the possibility of being punished (punishment in Skinnerian terms) is effective in enhancing cooperation. Yes. There is plenty evidence out there to support my claim. Nevertheless, not the kind of punishment that brings oppression and uncertainty about. It needs to be altruistic punishment. That which also comes at a cost to the doer.

(Although you have used the word punishment interchangeably with violence, I am talking about punishment in Skinnerian terms. As I explained at the beginning of the article.)

This is what I say.

it mustn’t be the kind that allows vengeance and intimidation to occur. It should instead be the kind that reasonably and transparently displays the offenses that have been committed.

Finally, do I think punishment is just as important as reinforcement?

Absolutely not. First because it doesn't really guide people towards what to do, as stated before. And secondly because it is through rewards that a society gets to move forward. Through opportunities and recognition. But, if punishment is all the decision makers can come up with to suppress cheating from overtaking the environment. Than, efforts need to be improved and/or put in place to reward those who conform. Greater efforts. As I said and concluded the text. In the hope that it would elicit the importance that reinforcements have over punishment :)

So then, the society, the household, the community .... doesn't become a system that is mostly about punishing wrongdoers. Punishment is an ugly word, I know. That's why I began this post clarifying that rather than using it in the sense that the general public uses, I am using it as a psychological term that describe one way of shaping behaviour :)

Thank you once again for your question @owasco. I know this is too long a reply. But, my intention is to be understood by you.

Have a great day :)