The question is whether punishment makes the changes you want
Also it depends on the definition of what you “want”—for example if you punish someone for bad behavior, what exactly is your goal?
to help them improve their behavior?
to signal to other people that you care?
to have higher status that the punished person?
All three goals are pleasant, though only the first one is officially desirable. The punishment works in all directions. Perhaps this is the reason why behavior change by punishment is popular more than it deserves; and why people rationalize its usefulness even when the first goal visibly fails.
Also it depends on the definition of what you “want”—for example if you punish someone for bad behavior, what exactly is your goal?
to help them improve their behavior?
to signal to other people that you care?
to have higher status that the punished person?
All three goals are pleasant, though only the first one is officially desirable. The punishment works in all directions. Perhaps this is the reason why behavior change by punishment is popular more than it deserves; and why people rationalize its usefulness even when the first goal visibly fails.
Agreed. Hopefully, instructors care most about the first- but in general human interaction, the others can easily rise to prominence.