Which figure is better for encouraging good behaviour: Santa Claus or the Boogeyman?

I can tell you that, as a child, both of these had 0 effect on how I behaved.

Carrot > stick.

That said, my parents didn't have me believing in either one as a kid.

@jedixman: Good parents.

Probably santa because nobody in this century is telling their kids there is a boogeyman.

The Boogeyman

Never believed in either, but Boogeyman all day.

Receiving presents makes me uncomfortable, so Santa actually had the opposite effect.

Neither.

John Wick... sorry the Baba Yaga... sorry bogeyman

Belsnickel

Neither are good because the “good” behavior isn’t genuine. The Boogeyman motivates through fear and Santa motivates through greed. The lessons they teach are you can get what you want easily with intimidation and bribery.

Santa Claus is better at encouraging good behavior. The boogeyman is better at discouraging bad behavior...there is a difference there.

At least I know what Santa looks like.

For all I know, the boogeyman may actually also be Santa

A dominatrix.

Santa, except not for the traditional reasons.

Depending on your parenting style, Santa actually makes for a pretty good learning experience for your child, in regards to critical thinking and skepticism, and questioning ideas. On a larger societal scale. You don't want to mislead them too much, but if they have peers that will believe, and you always want Christmas traditions, you can be more neutral and pay attention to their attitude and questions about Santa. Note. This only really works if you pay attention to them a lot. Plus, obviously aren't trying to parent from a hard authority role. Also this doesn't always work, I have heard (but can't really affirm the validity) that autistic children, can often be less receptive to being lied to about Christmas. Think I read that from David Kyle Johnson, a philosophy professor, who, incidentally has a book about this The Myths that Stole Christmas, but I think he is more opposed to the idea of Santa.

Oh also, I suppose Boogeyman could be used the same way, but I think fear is a harder intuitive feeling for children to overcome, and so the risks of long term, deep seeded insecurities and trust issues may exist for longer without any of the benefits from overcoming such anxieties/worries.