What is the primary purpose of punitive damages in a legal context?

The primary purpose of punitive damages is to serve as a form of punishment. These damages are awarded in cases where the defendant's behavior is found to be particularly egregious or reckless. Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to reimburse the injured party for actual losses, punitive damages aim to deter the defendant and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. They function as a mechanism to promote accountability and signal to society that certain actions will not be tolerated. This punitive aspect emphasizes not just the impact on the individual who was harmed but also the broader implications for societal behavior. Thus, the focus on punishment is what distinctly identifies punitive damages within the legal framework.