moridinamael comments on How habits work and how you may control them - Less Wrong

64 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 12 October 2013 12:17PM

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Comment author: moridinamael 14 October 2013 02:09:48PM 2 points [-]

Not an expert, but I believe the distinction is that such abstract punishments as taking away toys effectively provide a motivation to change the behavior, effectively incentivizing the punished to try to change the habit. This can only work insofar as the punished is able to recognize the unwanted behavior and meaningfully control their response to it. This is inherently different from directly rewarding or punishing the behavior, and it certainly doesn't work on any animal besides humans.

Comment author: hyporational 14 October 2013 06:00:41PM 0 points [-]

I agree. This also implicates abstract punishment works differently for different developmental ages. Abstractly punishing kids too young enough to understand it is just cruel, and it's just a stupid way to punish older kids who understand it too well.