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University of Michigan study indicates negative outcomes for Native American children who are spanked

A new University of Michigan study found that spanking is harmful for all three racial groups, despite cultural differences. Spanking at age 1 predicts child behavior issues at age 3, leading to more spanking at age 5. The study's findings highlight the need for discipline alternatives to spanking in Native American communities.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateAug 19, 2019

How the brain hears and fears

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that brain cells in mice associate sounds with emotions through experience and learning. The amygdala, a key brain region, shows specific patterns of neuron activity when animals are trained to fear or anticipate rewards.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2018

Study examines tax compliance behavior in small business owners

A new study surveyed 330 UK micro-business owners, finding that internalised motivation (fair fiscal system) and extrinsic motivation (severe penalties) predict self-reported tax compliance. Internalised motivation but not extrinsic motivation predicts tax compliance when considered together.

SourceWiley·JournalApplied Psychology·DateMay 30, 2018

How the brain responds to injustice

The study found that participants were more willing to punish a wrongdoer when they experienced injustice directly, associating with brain activity in the ventral striatum. Participants receiving oxytocin chose less intense punishments, suggesting the hormone's role in maintaining fairness.

Is punishment as effective as we think?

A social dilemma experiment found that punishment is ineffective in promoting cooperation among players, with players instead replacing defection with punishment. The study suggests that punishment has a demoralizing effect and reduces the incentive to choose cooperation over competition.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 27, 2017

Researchers study factors predicting school corporal punishment

New Penn State research reveals that Southern natives and average education level are key predictors of school corporal punishment use. The study found a correlation between parental corporal punishment and SCP, highlighting the potential negative impacts on children's social and behavioral well-being.

SourcePenn State·JournalChildren and Youth Services Review·DateJul 12, 2017

Motivation through punishment

Researcher Andreas Eder found that punishment alone does not suppress undesirable behavior but can even facilitate it. The brain uses behavioral consequences to trigger actions more easily, even if the consequences are disagreeable. Providing clear feedback for desired behavior is crucial in educational practices.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateJul 4, 2017

Building trust, not hate

When anonymity is lifted, cooperation increases significantly due to mutual understanding. Participants who knew each other were more likely to cooperate rather than engage in retaliatory sentiments or punishment.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 29, 2017

SHSU study examines death penalty support in Mexico

A recent study by Sam Houston State University researchers found that Mexican citizens are more likely to support the death penalty than previously thought. Contrary to U.S. studies, Catholics in Mexico were found to be more likely to support capital punishment, while older Mexicans and those living in states bordering the U.S. were le...

SourceSam Houston State University·JournalCrime & Delinquency·DateMar 28, 2017

Simple reward-based learning suits adolescents best

A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that adolescents are more receptive to rewards than punishments of equal value. The researchers suggest using positive reinforcement methods in education and parenting to encourage desired behavior, as reward-based systems may be more effective for this age group.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 20, 2016

When punishment doesn't fit the crime

Research reveals that people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have difficulty judging the severity of crimes and assigning appropriate punishments. This impairment can affect their social skills, such as empathy and rational judgments, leading to poorer prognoses for resuming normal work and family life.

SourceSikich Marketing & Public Relations·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateOct 15, 2015

Uniquely human brain region enables punishment decisions

A recent study revealed that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) integrates information about a suspect's blameworthiness and harm to others, enabling humans to decide on appropriate punishment levels. The DLPFC is specialized for integrating multiple streams of information to select responses.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateSep 16, 2015

Pinpointing punishment

A new study has pinpointed the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a critical brain region responsible for coordinating punishment decisions made by judges and juries. The DLPFC integrates information from other parts of the brain to determine punishment, with disruption leading to reduced punishments for morally responsible agents.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNeuron·DateSep 16, 2015

What can 3-year-olds teach us about justice? Plenty

Researchers found that young children prefer to return lost items to their rightful owners and prevent a third party from taking what doesn't belong to them. This suggests that a concern for others is a core component of a sense of justice, likely central to human cooperation.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 18, 2015

Carrot or stick?

Researchers found that a sequential use of reward and punishment can promote cooperation in collaborative endeavors. The study suggests that initially rewarding minor cooperators and then punishing free riders can lead to better outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateDec 3, 2014

Less reward, more aversion when learning tricky tasks

A new study at Brown University reveals that conflict in learning tasks biases the brain to reduce the influence of reward and increase the influence of aversion to punishment. The researchers used EEG scans, genetic tests, and manipulation with a dopamine-related drug to gather evidence for this link. They found that people who learn ...

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 4, 2014