A remarkable thing about humans compared to most other animals is that we have to learn a lot about how to navigate the world from others rather than having behavior programmed in through evolution.

Most of us are well-behaved. We try to do the right thing, follow moral norms, and avoid harming others. But punishment has existed in every human society. This suggests punishment is a critical ...

Imagine you and your friend are at a party and someone orders pizza. You’re starving. You put a couple of slices on your plate and sit down at the table. Before you start eating, you excuse yourself ...

Researchers have measured gender differences in cooperation and punishment behavior. Results showed that men punish more than women, men obtain higher rank, and punishment by males decreases payoffs ...

Many children are willing to make personal sacrifices to punish wrongdoers — and even more so if they believe punishment will teach the transgressor a lesson, a new Yale study published Nov. 23 in the ...

Why do we punish people who are selfish, even when their behavior doesn't affect us directly? We protest unfair labor practices, criticize someone for going on Facebook at work, and condemn our ...