The neurobiology of punishment
- 1 April 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Nature in Nature Reviews Neuroscience
- Vol. 8 (4) , 300-311
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2119
Abstract
Animals, in particular humans, frequently punish other individuals who behave negatively or uncooperatively towards them. In animals, this usually serves to protect the personal interests of the individual concerned, and its kin. However, humans also punish altruistically, in which the act of punishing is personally costly. The propensity to do so has been proposed to reflect the cultural acquisition of norms of behaviour, which incorporates the desire to uphold equity and fairness, and promotes cooperation. Here, we review the proximate neurobiological basis of punishment, considering the motivational processes that underlie punishing actions.Keywords
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