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Related Experiment Videos

When do we punish people who don't?

Justin W Martin1, Jillian J Jordan2, David G Rand3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States.

Cognition
|August 14, 2019
PubMed
Summary

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People sometimes punish others for not punishing norm violators. This study found that observers who fail to punish are more likely to be punished themselves than victims who do not punish.

Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics
  • Moral Psychology

Background:

  • Norm violations are frequently met with punishment.
  • The conditions under which failing to punish is itself punished are not well understood.
  • Higher-order punishment, where individuals face consequences for not punishing others, is a key area of inquiry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the conditions under which individuals are punished for failing to punish norm violators.
  • To differentiate between the punishment of non-punishing victims and non-punishing observers.
  • To explore the psychological mechanisms and functional aspects of higher-order punishment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized incentivized economic games and hypothetical vignettes.
  • Presented participants with scenarios involving norm violations and varying levels of punishment.
Keywords:
AdaptationCooperationNormsPunishment

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examined the responses to individuals who failed to punish, distinguishing between second-party (victim) and third-party (observer) roles.

    • Main Results:

    • Consistently observed higher-order punishment directed at non-punishing observers.
    • Found weaker and sometimes absent higher-order punishment for non-punishing victims.
    • Demonstrated a selective application of punishment based on the role of the non-punishing individual.

    Conclusions:

    • Higher-order punishment is selectively applied, primarily targeting observers who fail to uphold norms.
    • The findings offer new insights into the psychological underpinnings and societal functions of enforcing social norms.
    • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for comprehending social control and cooperation.