What is the best way to teach accountability?

Question

Please explain.

Answer

It's a mix. 
Punishing will only work for so long especially as a child gets older. 
Talking only works so far, especially with older kids. It seems to fall on deaf ears. 
Sometimes you have to show kids or let them experience it (use little clever games/analogy) where they can see the outcome for themselves.

Answer

Punishment only teaches you to avoid a behaviour/avoid getting caught doing it as opposed to teaching you why it is wrong or teaching you to behave better.

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I don't like punishment, because there first thing that comes to mind is corporal punishment.

It is important to demonstrate to kids that for every action in life there is an equal and opposit reaction...so there will be poor consequences for poor behavior. It's not always a "punishment" though.

I also think giving kids responsibility that you can hold them accountable for is important. For example when my daughter comes of age she will be responsible for simple tasks with the pets: litter box, feeding, etc. She will be given the tasks in a way that she learns how to become accountable to herself for them.

Does that make sense? In running on 0 sleep here.

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Consequences which are completely different then punishment

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Can it be taught? Maybe some people have it, and some people don't. Even still it may depend on the context. Weight loss for example, or relapsing.

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Well the definition of punishment is to lower the future frequency or intensity of a behavior, so punishing someone for accountability would mean in the future (if the punishment was effective), they would be less accountable. Just like with almost anything else, the best way to curb behavior is through reinforcement.

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I would say a mix of talking to your child and punishment. If a child does something like hit their sibling and hurt them, then they should be talked to and told why that is wrong and that they've hurt someone else, etc. But also punishment with a time out also teaches that actions have consequences. Whereas I don't think just being told that something is wrong works quite as well. In real life as an adult if you hit someone then you can go to jail. I believe that kids should be taught early on that their bad actions have unfavourable consequences. 
I also believe that good actions should receive praise as well. So that kids learn being kind is something they should and will want to do. So if your kid apologizes for hitting their sibling and is actually sorry, then you should verbally praise them so they know that you can be forgiven. 
I also do not believe that you can teach a child to have empathy. You can show them empathy and model that for them while being strict and punishing them. But if a person lacks empathy then there really is no way to make them empathetic.

Answer

Both. 
A type of punishment, not corporal, such as a corner. Then empathy and calmly telling them what and why they did. Something wrong. 
And the same goes for adults. They need punishment, but a lot of them also have really sad stories. Some also need some empathy. However that doesn't apply to ALL of then