There’s a controversial new ad campaign underway in the city of New York—public service announcements intended to keep teens from getting pregnant. One ad, for instance, features a toddler telling viewers, “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen.” The ads have come under fire for using shame as a technique, but others argue that shame is a legitimate tool to curb unwanted behavior. “We like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, but the truth is that emotions like fear, disgust or shame can often have a more powerful effect on human behavior than objective information and careful reasoning,” writes Richard Reeves in The New York Times. “Most of us think twice about making a choice that will make us feel ashamed. Feelings count for as much as facts.” (The New York Times)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and two children. Follow him on Twitter.