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emotional effects of spanking on children
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“I will beat you into the middle of next week!” or “I will whip you until your butt swell up!” or “If you play with fire you will get burnt by the belt!” or I will smack the daylight out of you!” These are some of the quotes my parents used on my brothers and me when we were kids.
Have you ever been spanked? We all have our own stories of how our parents disciplined us, we take them as funny stories and even joke about them. If you were born in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, you already know what I’m talking about and I bet many stories already ran over your minds just now. But as we grew up and time passed by, there has been this predicament about this method of parenting. “Parents feel mixed-up and uncomfortable about disciplining their children”.
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My parents spanked my brothers and me when we were younger. By the same token, a parent’s point of view on spanking has as an effective form of punishment that gets the point across to the child that they should not be doing the bad things that they received that punishment for. Also, most children are spanked from age two until almost ten years old. However, spanking has been known to lead to many emotional and physical illnesses. Not to mention, a spanking can be a violent punishment that should not be used to penalize children. The line between spanking and child abuse is very thin, and a parent could go too …show more content…
If you were to list all the things a parent wouldn’t want their kids to be doing, you would have a list of the harmful side effects of spanking. For instance, several studies have shown spanking and other forms of physical discipline can pose a serious risk to children. (Smith) As a matter of fact, spanking can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children. Also, researchers looked at the effects on three detrimental behaviors in children who were spanked: non-compliance in the short term, non-compliance in the long term, and aggression. (Darcia Narvaez) Although it is hard completing these studies in the homes since spanking hardly ever occurred at all nor in front of strangers. Correspondingly, it was hard to study them in a lab due to the injunction against hurting
Swat! The entire store tries not to stare at the overwhelmed mother spanking her three-year-old whaling son. As if the screaming tantrum wasn't enough of a side show at the supermarket. This method, or technique perhaps, has been around for decades, even centuries. Generations have sat on grandpa’s lap and listened to the stories of picking their own switch or getting the belt after pulling off a devilish trick. So why then has it become a major controversy in the past few decades? The newest claim is that spanking and other forms of physical punishment can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children. Brendan L. Smith uses many case studies and psychologists findings in his article “The Case Against Spanking” to suggest that parents refrain from physically punishing their children due to lasting harmful effects.
Reading, Richard. "Speak softly - and forget the stick: corporal punishment and physical abuse." Child: care, health and development (2009): 286-287. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 April 2011.
Spanking is alive and well today despite the antispanking prohibition. In a poll sponsored by Working Mother and the Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in Florida, 7,225 adults and 2,599 kids were surveyed (Hickey 48). When asked ?When should parents spank their children,? 51 percent replied ?When they think it?s necessary,? 30 percent said ?Only in extreme circumstances,? and only ten percent answered ?Never?(Hickey 48). Twelve percent of young adults, ages 18 to 34, which responded to the poll, said spanking should not occur; in comparison with the seven percent of both the 35-49 and 50-64 age groups which responded ?Never? (Hickey 48). The poll asked ?Which of these is (or was) most often used in your family to control children?s behavior?? As the prevalent choice, 37 percent responded ?Taking away privileges,? 23 percent said ?spanking,? 18 percent replied ?reasoning with the child,? four percent said ?bribes? and three percent answered ?ass...
The use of spanking is one of the most controversial parenting practices and also one of the oldest, spanning throughout many generations. Spanking is a discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child’s unacceptable behaviour. Although spanking exists in nearly every country and family, its expression is heterogeneous. First of all the act of administering a spanking varies between families and cultures. As Gershoff (2002) pointed out, some parents plan when a spanking would be the most effective discipline whereas some parents spank impulsively (Holden, 2002). Parents also differ in their moods when delivering this controversial punishment, some parents are livid and others try and be loving and reason with the child. Another source of variation is the fact that spanking is often paired with other parenting behaviours such as, scolding, yelling, or perhaps raging and subsequently reasoning. A third source of variation concerns parental characteristics. Darling and Steinberg (1993) distinguished between the content of parental acts and the style in which it was administered (Holden, 2002). With all this variation researchers cannot definitively isolate the singular effects of spanking.
Three reasons why people do not believe in spanking are spanking can cause harmful side effects, spanking is no more effective than other punishments, and spanking promotes violence in children. Some harmful side effects that could possibly be caused by spanking are children suffering from depression, being inferior in their school performance, or having problems later on in life. It is impossible to see side effects because they are not usually revealed immediately. People also believe that spanking cannot be proven to be more effective than any other punishment. They think parents can use other positive and nonviolent punishments to show children their actions were wrong without subjecting the children to the detrimental effects of spanking. Spanking can also be perceived as contradictory to teaching nonviolent behaviors to children. (1) It can reinforce negative memories and violence can be passed down through generations. A study that was published in a journal about child development was done with small children. It concluded that by the age of one, children that were spanked al...
... violence of corporal punishment. In addition, corporal punishment can and often does become abuse when parents are especially angry or stressed (Barnett, Miller-Perrin, Perrin 292).
Spanking is commonly associated with parents attempting to correct behavior in a child; ultimately often out of frustration and/or anger with the child’s behavior. In the heat of the moment, most parents do not associate the long term psychosocial or behavioral effects the act of spanking can have on a child. The dangers of these effects derived from how children think and behave show us that spanking is not an effective form of discipline.
Parents should never spank their children in anger but always in love. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do no provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” When a child is spanked out of anger, I feel that it is abusive. Children must learn what is right and what is wrong. If parents spank their children out of anger, their children will fear them.
"There is a great difference between spanking a child and abusing a child. One is an act of love; the other is an act of hostility" -- James Dobson, MD
Spanking, a fictitious form of child abuse, is an appropriate action toward unruly children. It is a popular practice used to instill discipline and values in children, and is more effective than talking to or yelling at the child or placing the child in “time out” sessions. In the long run, spanking causes no damage to the child’s mental or physical health. Instead, it creates a basis for good behavior.
...ginning of humanity. It worked then, and it works now. Critics have decided to re-define spanking as abuse. They would like for everyone to believe the propaganda. The truth is, however that spanking has its benefits. A little pain has positive long term results. Parents can expect a well mannered respectful adult to be the result. Parents should decide if they want to spank their children; not society. One parent’s choice of discipline has no value over another’s. The key thing to remember when it comes to discipline is to discipline out of love for the child. Never spank a child while angry. Explain to the child why the spanking has to be given. Afterwards, show some affection. This way the child will feel loved and understand reconciliation (Dobson). The child will have no feelings of resentment. When parents follow these steps, discipline will never be abuse.
The misconception about spanking has resulted in a lack of discipline in America causing a decline in society. The Bible and many other doctors and researchers are clear about the correct way to discipline children. When proper discipline is implemented, children are prepared for life. Spanking, like anything else, is only effective when performed properly. As long as it comes out of a heart of love, it will bear good fruit. Parents, try spanking your child the next time it’s needed; not hastily or angry, but out of love.
Parents have the right to choose whether they want to smack their children or not. As Whiting demonstrates, “parents are responsible for guiding and controlling the behavior of their children and instilling good moral values” (1). It is their right to decide which way is mostly suitable to them for disciplining their childre...
As with all the forms of correction, the concepts of punishments and discipline are absolute opposites. Punishment is motivated by anger, focuses on the past, and results in wither compliance or rebellion and feeling of shame, guilt and hostility. But on the other hand, discipline is motivated by love for the child, focus on the future, and have results of obedience and feeling of security. Parents want their children to understand that the gentle sting of a spanking is connected to the greater and often long-term pain of harmful choices. A child should always receive a clear warning before any offense that might merit a spanking and understand why they are receiving the spanking. As Jared Pingleton says in his article; “Parenting is a hard job. None of us do it perfectly. And to make it even more challenging, none of our kids come with an instruction manual attached. But our children need us to do it to the best of our ability, with all the wisdom, love, gentleness and strength we can muster. We won’t go wrong if we exercise a firm and consistent hand with a soft and loving
...E. (2000). Child Outcomes of Nonabusive and Customary Physical Punishment by Parents: An Updated Literature Review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. doi:10.1023/A:1026473020315.