Blame and Punishment

This hybrid lecture/seminar course provides a scientific investigation of two related but distinct forms of human moral regulation: blame and punishment. Students learn about the interdisciplinary literature on moral judgment and moral sanctions, drawing on psychology, cognitive science, behavioral economics, sociology, history, law, and anthropology. Students investigate the cognitive, social, and affective differences between blame and punishment, about their distinct cultural history and institutional dynamics, and about their functional and dysfunctional uses. Students critically examine core research articles on the topics, and they present, discuss, and write about their responses to the work.