Step 1: Understand the theories of punishment
- Preventive Theory: Focuses on preventing crime by restricting the offender's future actions.
- Deterrent Theory: Punishment should discourage the offender and others from committing crimes.
- Reformative Theory: Punishment aims to reform or rehabilitate the offender.
- Retributive Theory: Punishment is deserved and should be a form of retaliation or harm proportionate to the offense.
Step 2: Match the question
- The question describes punishment as a means to inflict harm or suffering as retribution.
Thus, the Retributive theory (Option D) is correct.