In my Psychology class this week, we're learning about learning. Specifically, we're learning about how people learn (or unlearn) certain habits or behaviors in response to rewards and punishments. And one of the more interesting things I've learned is that punishment doesn't really work. Punishment may help to suppress certain behaviors under certain circumstances, but it will mostly only develop a sense of fear or resentment against the punisher. I suppose that may be why God prefers to use promised blessings instead more than threatened punishments. Promised blessings, and actualized blessings in mortality, can reinforce and encourage good behavior and help people maintain the motivation to maintain a righteous lifestyle.
I'm glad we've learned some of what works and what doesn't in terms of helping people behave well, and I'm especially glad that the more optimal method also happens to be the more pleasant one. It's little wonder, then, why God would prefer to bless rather than to punish. Positive reinforcement works in a way that punishment doesn't, and frankly, it's a nicer form of persuasion anyway.
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