In legal terms, what is the primary focus of punitive damages?

The primary focus of punitive damages is to penalize wrongful behavior. Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to reimburse an injured party for actual losses such as income or incurred expenses, punitive damages serve a different purpose. They are awarded not to compensate the plaintiff directly, but rather to impose a financial penalty on the defendant for particularly egregious or malicious conduct. This serves two main functions: it acts as a deterrent, discouraging the defendant and others from engaging in similar harmful actions, and it reflects society's condemnation of the wrongful behavior. The goal is to uphold ethical standards and promote accountability within the legal system, ensuring that individuals and corporations are liable for their actions when those actions exhibit gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.