Tactics training

After studying a complex situation and finally making a brilliant move or series of moves that are considered to be correct, I am awarded one point  If my move is considered to be incorrect, eight or nine points are deducted from my rating. This is more than irritating. Is that the intention?

Fair or not, much of your score depends on the speed with which you find the answer.  If you're only getting a point, most folks are finding the answer quicker.  All that said it's very irritating, but less than it used to be when you would lose points for a correct answer if you took too long.  Now you will never lose points for a correct answer and someone posted that you have almost a day to find the answer before 0 points.  So be grateful for small favors... 

OK - but why are so many points deducted for what the computer deems to be an incorrect move?

Let's say you lost 8-9 points for the wrong move.  You would have also gained 8-9 points if you had got it correctly within a certain amount of time (depending on the puzzle).