The Negative Effects Of Corporal Punishment Of Children And Their Children

Spanking is a fiercely debated social issue in many countries, such as the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and Germany. There are questions over what intensity of pain is suitable until it crosses the threshold into abuse. Up until the mid-20th century it was perfectly okay in most communities for a spanking to cause a child to cry in pain throughout and have difficulty sitting down afterward, even resulting in stripes or bruises for days. Nowadays several think even mere redness of the skin abusive, while others would call it effective discipline. This causes questions as to whether children should be spanked. In addition, whether spanking is an effective method of discipline and at what point does it constitutes child abuse.

Corporal punishment has been a huge controversy since the 1950s. Sweden was the first country to ban spanking. Their ideas on spanking began to then be brought up and applied to other countries. Even some states in the US have followed Sweden’s footsteps and have also banned spanking such as California and Massachusetts. Over the years the percent of parents spanking their kids have dropped, but is it necessary to stop using spanking as a punishment altogether. Many have researched the good and bad effects of corporal punishment, but there is still much research to be done. Spanking has been used for many years to teach children how to behave. Kids have been spanked with switches, (a twig or flexible branch) belts, paddles, and many other things of the sort. Now people say that the use of corporal punishment, even when using only your hand, is abuse. Spanking is used to help parents raise their children to be respectful and civilized adults, not to harm them and cause them to be afraid.

Have you ever been spanked as a kid and felt angry towards your parents? Did you feel they just hated you? Spanking is a form of corporal punishment which is a punishment intended to cause pain in many different ways. Corporal punishment started in slavery and led to schools and homes. Although many states have banned corporal punishment it is still allowed in 19 out of 50 states. Many adults will agree children just need a ‘good ol’e spanking’ and others will argue that it is a negative way to parent and causes more problems. Spanking children is not a proper way of parenting because it gives a negative effect on children.

Spanking has been the way of discipline for many years, but in reality it is child abuse. Spanking, also known as corporal punishment, to me is any kind of negative physical contact to a child with the intention to cause pain as a way of discipline. Anything from a pat on the butt, to the use of a belt or paddle on a child, or a smack on the hand or mouth can be considered spanking. Child abuse is violence, and "violence is an act carried out with the intention, or perceived intention, of causing physical pain or injury to another person" (Straus 7). The intentions of both spanking and violence are to cause pain and the only difference is that violence also covers acts of injury. So, are parents actually teaching their children

Just about everyone believes that spanking is a necessary method of obedience for children to help legislate order in or out of the home. According to Cheryl Ladd, “discipline is so much of an important part of being a parent. Because it’s very, very important to teach your children to take responsibility for their actions.” Although I believe that spanking is not harmful, granted that it is not excessive, it is used as a disciplinary tool, helps kids decipher what is right from wrong, and keeps children motivated to do better and stay out of trouble.

Spanking has been a controversial topic among many parents. Some believe it is just a form of discipline and is okay, while others believe that this is abuse or violence and it will harm the child in the long run.

Spanking a child in today’s society is a common misconception, that is seen as either discipline, or abuse. It seems that there’s a less number of parents that are against and even afraid to spank their children, than those who believe it’s an effective way of discipline. As a child, alongsides with my sister, we were spanked when misbehaved, making me believe that it’s okay to discipline your child. With the correct intention in mind, spanking shouldn’t be harmful towards the child and should be accepted as an act of discipline. It shouldn't be mistaken as an act of abuse towards a child.

The effects of spanking are seen in children being antisocial and more aggressive. As children sees it, spanking is one way to get something that you want, like obedience asked by parents from their children.

Those that are on the pro-spanking side of the discussion believe that to be successful, a child must “learn to obey legitimate authority” and this is often done by “powerful love, but equally powerful discipline” (Rosemond, 2005). John Rosemond believes that in order to be effective, punishment must have three qualities: be punitive, provide emotional discomfort, and create a lasting memory; and he believes that spanking is the correct combination of those qualities. In the eyes of most pro-spankers, spanking is not physical abuse, but merely a tool to elicit respect. As aforementioned, Rosemond believes that love is always at the root of spanking (2005). As well, the belief is that this will raise well-behaved children that are not spoiled; since nowadays what is considered love is “nothing more than indulging, enabling, and rescuing”

Spanking has become an arguably debatable form of discipline. According to a study at the University of Texas, the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents (“Spanking: Pros and Cons”). There is a connection between spanking during the childhood and mental health diagnoses later in life. There are other options of discipling your child than spanking them, especially because all children can take spanking differently. Parents should not spank their child because it showers that being “stronger” is right, demonstrates that older people have a right to hit younger people, and gives the examples that violence solves all problems.

Through studies show the different views, aspects, and effects spanking can have on a child, every parent will punish their children their own way. It is a ongoing debate and there are many points to be made to further this discussion. Children have shown to have negative effects due to physical punishment while some have not. Overall, both have their pros and cons and every parent will punishments their own

Corporal punishment or spanking does not only hurt physically but can lead to emotional and behavioral problems down the road for children. When parents spank children they are using the notion of fear to teach them what not to do, but it does not explain what is right when it comes to appropriate behaviors. In addition, children learn that when they

It is just as bad to spank a child because it causes them to want to use force to solve their own problems. Hitting a child is no different than hitting someone else. Parenting Magazine says "hitting a child doesn’t teach them anything but to have a 'might makes a right' attitude towards others" (Kuttner, 1988). This means that using spanking as a disciplinary method only teaches them that hitting someone when they do something wrong is the right thing to do. Another magazine that deals with parenting issues basically says the same thing about physical punishment. "We do not say to our children (most of us, anyway), 'Hitting is right' or 'Hitting is a good thing to do.' We do not really believe that it is a good thing to hit people. Most of us are not 'in favor' of hitting children. However, many of us (most of us, actually) behave as if it is a good thing to do" says Straus (2002). The main problem is that parents are not informed well enough on the issue that spanking is bad. The last quote shows that parents are totally unaware that they are even hurting their child because the parents "behave as if it is a good thing to do.

It is a common enough scene, something you have probably experienced with your own children countless times. They are being loud, fighting, or just generally doing something they are not supposed to be doing. So you spank them. Maybe even yell. You’re frustrated, at your whit’s end. You just want them to stop, want them to learn and make better choices. Only, after spanking them, their behavior worsens. The effect you thought spanking them would have is not working. They act out more, get more aggressive. A debate has risen, as scenarios such as this become more talked about. Some say corporal punishment is damaging psychologically and negatively impacts childhood development. So the question has to be asked: “Is spanking bad?”

Corporal punishment including spanking is a widely used disciplinary technique in most families. But the method has been questioned about its effects the child’s mental and social development. A new study suggested that spanking a child can lead to mental health issues.