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Direct and indirect punishment of norm violations in daily life

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Molho

    (VU Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA)
    Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse)

  • Joshua M. Tybur

    (VU Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA))

  • Paul A. M. Van Lange

    (VU Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA))

  • Daniel Balliet

    (VU Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA))

Abstract

Across societies, humans punish norm violations. To date, research on the antecedents and consequences of punishment has largely relied upon agent-based modeling and laboratory experiments. Here, we report a longitudinal study documenting punishment responses to norm violations in daily life (k = 1507; N = 257) and test pre-registered hypotheses about the antecedents of direct punishment (i.e., confrontation) and indirect punishment (i.e., gossip and social exclusion). We find that people use confrontation versus gossip in a context-sensitive manner. Confrontation is more likely when punishers have been personally victimized, have more power, and value offenders more. Gossip is more likely when norm violations are severe and when punishers have less power, value offenders less, and experience disgust. Findings reveal a complex punishment psychology that weighs the benefits of adjusting others’ behavior against the risks of retaliation.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Molho & Joshua M. Tybur & Paul A. M. Van Lange & Daniel Balliet, 2020. "Direct and indirect punishment of norm violations in daily life," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17286-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17286-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Simon Columbus & Lars P. Feld & Matthias Kasper & Matthew D. Rablen, 2023. "Behavioural Responses to Unfair Institutions: Experimental Evidence on Rule Compliance, Norm Polarisation, and Trust," CESifo Working Paper Series 10591, CESifo.
    2. Gao, Hongyu & Wang, Juan & Zhang, Fan & Li, Xiaopeng & Xia, Chengyi, 2021. "Cooperation dynamics based on reputation in the mixed population with two species of strategists," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 410(C).
    3. Rainer Widmann & Michael E. Rose & Marina Chugunova, 2023. "Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Accused Scientists, and Their Research," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 419, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    4. Zixuan Tang & Chen Qu & Yang Hu & Julien Benistant & Frederic Moisan & Edmund Derrington & Jean-Claude Dreher, 2023. "Strengths of social ties modulate brain computations for third-party punishment," Post-Print hal-04325737, HAL.
    5. Jun Qian & Tongda Zhang & Xiao Sun & Yueting Chai, 2023. "The coordination of collective and individual solutions in risk-resistant scenarios," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 96(2), pages 1-15, February.

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