Experiments have shown that strangers who observe unfair behavior often join in the punishment. Altruistic punishment is accompanied by increased activity in the pleasure centers of the brain. It appears that maintaining the social order and the rules of fairness in this fashion is its own reward. However our brains are not designed to reward generosity as reliably as they punish meanness Page 308, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman This explains why we are all eager to participate in verbal or actual bashing (dharma adi for my tamil friends) when we conclude that someone has done something wrong. Interesting how our brains do not allow us to participate in the same vein when it comes to praising..
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 02:38:06 +0000