The effectiveness of corporal punishment truly and solely depends on the person. No one can determine what is in the best interest of a child, if one could there would be no need for studies on the matter. Parent, for different reasons, may over discipline their child because they are ignorant to the effect it may have on them. Any form of corporal punishment that is overdone can be dangerous, however a few legs swats probably won’t alter the mental stability of children. Analyzing this information will not easily answer whether or not a parent should spank their child, however parents should find other ways to discipline their child due to possible outcomes.
In an interview with a Daycare owner and mother of three (who wanted to remain anonymous), when asked if she has spanked her children and does she thing that spanking is an effective way to discipline children
“Yes I have spanked my children. At the age of one I began to tap their hands and bottoms, however afterward I would tell them that I love them and inform them as to why they were being punished. I never would spank them in excess, only when they were doing things wrongs after my other ways like talking to them about their behavior didn’t work. I realized that this is an effective measure when, after I would spank them they would no longer continue with their bad behavior. I do believe that spanking is effective but only at young ages and only when a parent is actively telling their child why they did it and what the can do to avoid getting punished.”
This is a method that some might over look or ever fail to acknowledge as an option. For example, at no point the Dr. Phill segment was guest Monica depicted as a mother that talks to her children about her reasons for spanking, she was being portrayed as a mother that acted out of rage.
Personally, there were only a few instances in which I have been subjected to corporal punishment. Mostly as a child I remember being told not to do something and if I did it would result in a spanking or punishment. Being “grounded meant that I was no longer able to go places or do things that I wanted to do. In raising me the grounding method was most effective, however corporal punishment was also effective. When I was younger corporal punishment was more effective. Being spanked taught me to respect my parents. It also helped me realize that I was no in control and that I must submit to authority. Once at daycare, I received a spanking for talking to during naptime, after I was warned no to talk. Although I felt as though I worthy of getting a spanking, I never made that mistake again. That was a lesson that I still carry with me to this day.
The media has done its fare share of depicting the arguments on corporal punishment. On May 16, 2008 episode of the Dr. Phill entitled “ How far will you go?” where the guest talk about the struggles of parenting and their personal feeling and practices towards spanking. The opening scene reveals a fact “Every one out of two parents spank their kid” The first guest is a mother that says that “ I don’t remember a time when I did not spank my children out of anger…sometimes I leave my kids home at least two or three times a day so that I don’t get mad and hurt them”. Her husband reveals” When Monica spanks the kids she does it when she is angry, she can lose control.” Supporters of corporal punishment might argues that she is not “doing it right” and that she needs to realize that she is in control. However those that oppose corporal punishment might deem the mother as a horrible parent and an abusive mother. Dr Phil tells the couple “ You are not punishing your children, you are abusing.” (Dr. Phill 2008) The father (in the clips) seemed to show a lack of interest in the subject matter while his wife is in tears. Monica (the mother) is tired of being so angry with her children that she takes her frustration out on them by spanking and yelling at them. Monica shared that as a childe she was spanked and that “It worked for us” so she figured that she was in rehab and that the other siblings were rebelling against her parents as well. Dr. Phill like man that oppose corporal punishment, tries to get Monica to see that corporal punishment did not “Work” instead it has become one of the main contribution factors in her abuse of her children. This segment in particular supports the claim that spanking does affect future parenting skills and has later psychological effects.
There are many different factors that play a part into the physical punishment of a child, how often it happens and to what degree it is practiced. The statics from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement (NLYS-CS) conducted at the Ohio State University Center for Human Resource Research, Columbus, shows that some of the main factors that authors and doctors specializing in the subject have noted that socioeconomic levels, single parent families, and the age of the parents play a major role in the disciplining of children. As far as the argument of socio-economic status is concerned, it is proven that just as poverty and minority races are concurrent, so are minority parents and the use of corporal punishment are related. (Garbarino, 1980). Though studies have concluded that all minorities are destined to poverty; however there is evidence that there are more impoverished minorities that use corporal punishment as a way of discipline in comparison to other races and their forms of family order. Nevertheless, children that grow in low social status homes tend to also have higher rates of antisocial behavior and delinquency, which is also a possible result of corporal punishment. (Feshback, 1970) “Regardless of whether parents
a satisfactory socialization environment in other respects, capital punishment tends to increase the risk of antisocial behavior”, (Alvy 1987)
Supporters of corporal punishment see this topic in a different light. Many believe solely with the old saying “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” Religious believers feel as though the Holy Bible grants them permission and affirmation to spank their children. Although there are several scriptures that make reference to corporal punishment there are three scripture in particular that vividly express this claim In Prov 22:15: "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." Synonyms for the word foolishness are stupidity and idiocy; with that the believers might concur that if they“ spare the rod” then they will indeed spoil the child resulting in the child remaining foolish. “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod. And deliver his soul from hell"(Proverbs 23:13). This scripture basically if you spank your child , they will not die however if you do spank them you will deliver them from ungodliness. The third scripture reads” He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him is chastises him betimes." (King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs [13:24]. This scripture implies that a parent that spanks their child loves them and one that does not hate their child. It is clear that religious believers feel as though it is in the best interest of the child that they receive corporal punishment because these are acts of “love”. Could it be that there are some positive effects of corporal punishment?
Some believe that corporal punishment is very effective in raising children. Walter E. Williams an economics professor at George Mason University and nationally syndicated columnist writes in his article “Making a Case for Corporal Punishment” that corporal punishment is not only effective but also necessary. Williams believes that corporal punishment will provide a consequence for misbehavior. He believes that we could alleviate a lot of the problems that go on in school and with juvenile delinquents if we enforce corporal punishment in and out of the home. “Regardless of what the experts preached, the undeniable fact is the ‘uncivilized’ practice of whipping children produced more civilized young people. Youngsters didn't direct foul language to, or use it in the presence of, teachers and other adults. In that ‘uncivilized’ era, assaulting a teacher or adult never would have crossed our minds” (Williams 1999). He mentions that during his upbringing, his parents weren’t the only one that could discipline him, it was customary during his era that if anyone saw that you were misbehaving, they had the authority to discipline your child. Walter argues that corporal punishment is effective, and if implemented there would be a great change in behavior of today’s youth for the better.
When a parent decides that they are going to use corporal punishment as a means for disciplinary action against their child’s misbehavior, the parent only inflicts pain on the child as a corrective measure. For example: a child is told to stay seated while in the doctors’ office however the child disobeys the command and proceeds to run around the office. The parent then spanks the child’s bottom or hand to insure that the misbehavior is no longer continued. This scenario is commonly seen throughout everyday life. However the effects of such behavior can be frowned upon as “bad parenting” by those who object to corporal punishment. Murray A. Straus, the author of “Beating the Devil out of Them”, challenges the effectiveness of this scenario. Straus states, “The immediate effect of corporal punishment may be able to stop misbehavior, but the long term effect is to increase the chances of worse behavior and other problems, including impaired learning and delinquency; and later in life, depression, child abuse, wife beating, and other crimes”(Straus 4) .The effects of corporal punishment in Straus’s opinions, has a domino effect. The more that a person is subjected to a particular behavior as a child the more likely their to exhibit that behavior in their adult lives. Straus argues, The more a person was spanked as a child the greater the likelihood for that person later hitting his or her spouse (9 Straus) Straus like many others that do not support corporal punishment, believes that though the results may vary in the effects, the overall detriment causes some later effect. Katharine C. Kersey, the author of “ Don’t Take It Out On Your Kids” claims that “(corporal punishment). breeds hostility and anger, leads to fear and avoidance, makes the child want to hit back or find another form of revenge and may lead to neurotic disorders (Kersey 1994). Kersey, also like Straus, argues that although corporal punishment’s intention to correct behavior comes it comes at a cost that is detrimental to the child.
Corporal punishment has been defined as the infliction of physical injury on someone convicted of committing a crime. Since the beginning of time humans have experienced some form of corporal punishment, most commonly during their childhood. There has been much debate over whether or not corporal punishment is effective in raising children. Commonly known as “spanking”, “paddling” and “whooping”, these terms have been the cause of much discussion in effective disciplinary strategies. There is varied information to support the effectiveness of corporal punishment; there are still many that continue to practice it. Both sides have provided seemingly substantial information affirming their opinions and beliefs
