RETRIBUTION. One of the oldest and most basic justifications for punishment involves the principles of revenge and retribution. This equation of punishment with the gravity of the offense is embedded in the Judeo-Christian tradition in the Mosaic laws of the Old Testament that emphasize the idea of “an eye for an eye.”.
Punishment serves numerous social-control functions, but it is usually justified on the principles of retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation, and/or restoration . The specific principles that underlie these dominant philosophies for punishment are summarized below.
Sanctions also vary in their valence or direction. Positive sanctions for “good behavior” include various types of praise, awards, and rewards, whereas negative sanctions are associated with various types of punishments. Our focus on punishment dictates an emphasis on negative sanctions.