Saturday, January 24, 2015

Why does using shame as punishment uncivilize and downright mean? What kind of harmful psychologal consequences would the criminal feel after...

The short answer is it is uncivilized because it doesn't
work.  To publicly humiliate someone to an end that is not achieved is quite barbaric. 
Criminals are already quite ostracized from society, to publicly humiliate them in front
of people is useless.  Even if a person was reputable in society, embarrassing them and
ruining that reputation does not provide an individual an opportunity to try
again.


Rehabilitation, and cognitive behavioural therapy
are much more effective at curbing maladaptive behaviours.  Negative punishment only
encourages an individual to behave well when people are watching, it does nothing to
change their overall behaviour and thought
patterns.


Furthermore, creative punishments such as
individualized shaming creates a justice system that lacks uniformity.  Without
uniformity the severity of punishments for the same crime will be sporadic. 
Inconsistence punishment is not an effective deterrent.


The
psychological consequences can be quite significant depending on the mental resilience
of a person.  In severe cases it can lead to suicide.  Even in the most mild of cases it
can lead to post traumatic stress disorder and social phobias.

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