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In society, punishment is the practice of imposing something unpleasant on a wrongdoer. Most often, criminals are punished by fines or prison. Children are also punished by their parents, guardians, or teachers. Michel Foucault describes in detail the evolution of punishment from hanging, drawing and quartering of medieval times to the modern systems of fines and prisons. He sees a trend in criminal punishment from vengeance by the King to a more practical, utilitarian concern for deterrence and rehabilitation.
A particularly harsh punishment is called draconian, after Draco, the lawgiver of Athens.
In operant conditioning, punishment is the presentation of a stimulus contingent on a response which results in a decrease in response strength (as evidenced by a decrease in the frequency of response). The effectiveness of punishment in suppressing the response depends on many factors, including the intensity of the stimulus and the consistency with which the stimulus is presented when the response occurs. In parenting, additional factors that increase the effectiveness of punishment include a verbal explanation of the reason for the punishment and a good relationship between the parent and the child.
Punishment can be divided into two types: Positive punishment is the application of an aversive stimulus. Negative punishment is the removal of a desired condition.
1 Common punishments
Common judicial punishments for criminals:
- fines
- imprisonment
- corporal punishmentCorporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain to someone as correction or punishment. When used for the punishment of criminals or slaves, it is usually applied using an instrument such as a cane or a whip such as the cat-o-nine-tails' once use (legal in some countries, usually taking the form of whippingFlagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum "whip") the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, and the cat-o-nine-tails. Disciplinary use, and torture Flogging is an approximate synonym that was probably derived from fl or caningCaning also refers to a method of weaving chair seats and other furniture. See Caning (furniture Caning is corporal punishment with a cane, generally on the buttocks, palm or the soles of the feet. It was a common punishment throughout Europe and North Am, banned in other countries)
- capital punishmentCapital punishment also referred to as the death penalty is the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a capital offence or a capital crime''. Some jurisdictions that practice capital punishment restri (legal in some countries, banned in other countries - see use of death penalty worldwideAt one time the death penalty was used in almost every part of the globe; but over the last few decades many countries have abolished it. 78 countries still maintain the death penalty in both law and practice. 81 countries have abolished it completely; 13)
Common punishments for children by their parents, guardians or teachers:
2 Possible reasons for punishment
See also: Criminal justice
