“Corporal punishment for children is a violation their rights to respect their human dignity, and their physical integrity.” Its widespread legality violates their right to equal protection according to the law.” Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment for Children
Did you know that spanking is banned in 53 countries?
The United Nations (UN) is perhaps the best organization to end child punishment. The UN is a global organization that includes193Countries have determined that corporal punishment (read spanking, hitting or any other form of corporal punishment) is acceptable under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child treaty.Human rights violations.
53 UN member countries have so far banned corporal violence against children in any form. 56 members have committed to complete prohibition.
Some people, including this writer, may laugh at the idea that spanking is all bad.
However, scientists and mental health professionals may have a point.Basically, spanking is not in the long-term interests of our children.
This article will discuss the most recent psychological and scientific findings regarding the corporal punishment for children.
This is the only prerequisite for a successful approach to this important subject: Be open-minded. (There are some common ground!
SCIENCE DISCLOSES WHY YOU SHOULD NOT SPANK YOUR CHILDREN
“Detrimental child outcomes.”
Researchers published an article in the Journal of Family Psychology. They sought to answer two questions that have remained unanswered: Perhaps the most important is whether spanking has psychological effects comparable to physical abuse.
Scientists analyzed over 100 studies involving more than 160,000 children to make this determination. One of the 17 psychological outcomes associated with physical abuse was spanking.
Elizabeth Gershoff is an associate professor of human developmental and family sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. She states:
“We found that spanking was associated unintended adverse outcomes, and was not associated more immediate or longer-term compliance, which is what parents want when disciplining their children.”
This means that spanking did not affect obedience. However, it also contributed to “increased aggression, anti-social behaviour, mental health problems, and cognitive difficulties.”
These behaviors cannot be punished
Dr. Alan Kazdin, Sterling Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry, Yale University, states that “You can’t punish the behaviors you don’t want.” Therefore, “There is no need to use corporal punishment based upon the research.”
Kazdin summarizes his findings in a straightforward manner.
“We will not abandon an effective technique.We’re saying that spanking is an evil thing that doesn’t work“
In the short-term, spanking and physical punishment may be effective. The reason for this effect is quite simple: children fear being hit! This result doesn’t hold true.
Kazdin claims that spanking is not effective long-term because children lack a reward/punishment mechanism. This is a result of a mature brain. The child is incapable of changing behavior after receiving physical punishment.
Do spankers inadvertently feed a violent streak of people?
In Child Abuse and Neglect (2011), a study concluded that spanking can lead to an “intergenerational cycle in violence in homes” in which physical punishment was used. Parents may be creating a cycle of violence in their homes that is unknowingly perpetuated by spanking.
The study involved over 100 families and included interviews with parents and children aged 3-7 years old. The research concluded thatChildren who are physically punished more often resort to violence against their peers in order to resolve conflicts.
Researchers warn against “immediate adverse effects of spanking”
Dr. Gershoff says that a child does not get spanked and then go out and rob a shop. However, he believes there are indirect changes in the way the child thinks and feels about things.
Popular dissidents
Robert Larzelere is an Oklahoma State University professor who specializes in parental discipline. He disagrees with much of the above-mentioned research.
The studies don’t distinguish between corporal punishment that is non-abusive or too severe. Only when corporal punishment is used as the primary discipline tool or more severely, do you see worse outcomes than with other disciplinary methods?
Larzelere, along with many others, are advocates of “conditional spanking”. This is where the act is integrated into other forms youth discipline such as the temporary restriction or play time, time-bound punishment (timeout) and effective communication between parent and child.
Last Thoughts
It is possible that “proper” methods of youth discipline will never reach majority consensus. Conservative estimates suggest that spanking is a preferred method of discipline by two-thirds of American parents.
It’s fascinating to note that both sides of spanking debates agree on one thing.Spawning should not be the main source of discipline.
Food for thought