Which of the following pairs damages that aim to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct?

Punitive damages are specifically designed to punish a defendant for particularly egregious or reckless behavior and to deter similar actions in the future. Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to compensate the plaintiff for actual losses, punitive damages go beyond mere compensation. They serve as a form of societal condemnation of the defendant's actions, sending a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated. This is crucial in legal cases where the goal extends beyond addressing the harm done to the individual, aiming instead to promote broader standards of conduct within society.

In contrast, the other types of damages listed focus on compensation rather than punishment. Special damages cover quantifiable monetary losses, while general damages address non-economic losses like pain and suffering. Compensatory damages, as a whole, refer to any damages awarded to make the injured party whole, but they do not serve the punitive purpose inherent in punitive damages. Thus, the distinction lies in the objective—punitive damages aim to reform or deter the defendant and others from committing similar acts in the future.