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| The neural basis of altruistic punishment |
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| Author(s): de Quervain DJF, Fischbacher U, Treyer V, Schelthammer M, Schnyder U, Buck A, Fehr E |
| Source: SCIENCE Volume: 305 Issue: 5688 Pages: 1254-1258 Published: AUG 27 2004 |
| Times Cited: 205 References: 41 |
| Abstract: Many people voluntarily incur costs to punish violations of social norms. Evolutionary models and empirical evidence indicate that such altruistic punishment has been a decisive force in the evolution of human cooperation. We used (H2O)-O-15 positron emission tomography to examine the neural basis for altruistic punishment of defectors in an economic exchange. Subjects could punish defection either symbolically or effectively. Symbolic punishment did not reduce the defector's economic payoff, whereas effective punishment did reduce the payoff. We scanned the subjects' brains while they learned about the defector's abuse of trust and determined the punishment. Effective punishment, as compared with symbolic punishment, activated the dorsal striatum, which has been implicated in the processing of rewards that accrue as a result of goal-directed actions. Moreover, subjects with stronger activations in the dorsal striatum were willing to incur greater costs in order to punish. Our findings support the hypothesis that people derive satisfaction from punishing norm violations and that the activation in the dorsal striatum reflects the anticipated satisfaction from punishing defectors. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: de Quervain, DJF (reprint author), Univ Zurich, Div Psychiat Res, Lenggstr 31, CH-8029 Zurich, Switzerland |
Addresses:
1. Univ Zurich, Div Psychiat Res, CH-8029 Zurich, Switzerland
2. Univ Zurich, Inst Empir Res Econ, CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland
3. Univ Zurich Hosp, PET Ctr, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
4. Univ Zurich Hosp, Dept Psychiat, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
5. Coll Helveticum, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland |
| Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE, 1200 NEW YORK AVE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20005 USA |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: 850PJ |
| ISSN: 0036-8075 |
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| | | | | | | | | Record from Web of Science® | | | | | | | | | |