The use of corporal punishment as a means to discipline children is one of the most controversial forms of parenting. It's use in the United States, however, cannot be ignored. Research indicates that 94% of parents today use corporal punishment as a means of discipline, especially spanking (Smith, Lindsey, & Hansen, 2006). In the U.S. it has been reported that 74% of parents with children 17 years old or younger spank their children as a disciplinary technique (Benjet & Kazdin, 2003). Obviously, corporal punishment is being used in many American homes, but can these behaviors be justified?
It is difficult to dispute the use of corporal punishment when the law actually protects parents from physically punishing their children. In fact, in the U.S. corporal punishment is legal in all 50 states. Moreover, the U.S. is one of only two UN member countries to reject the ratification of the Treaty on the Rights of Children, legislation that aims to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence (Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006). U.S. legislation thus claims that hitting a child is an acceptable form of child rearing.
The use of corporal punishment also has religious roots. Proponents of corporal punishment often sight the biblical quote, "spare the rod, spoil the child" to justify its use (Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006). Evangelical Christians believe that spanking is necessary to instill in children a sense of respect for authority figures. Moreover, it is believed that refraining from spanking can have negative consequences on a child, causing them to act in uncontrollable or disrespectful ways. Fundamentalist Protestants also hold similar religious beliefs. They believe that it is their Godly and societal duty to exert their authority over their children, even if it means using physical force. In fact, Fundamentalist Protestants view corporal punishment positively regardless of the frequency or harshness of the behavior.
While corporal punishment is rooted both in religious doctrine and U.S. legislation, many scholars argue that the negative impact of abuse in children can have long-lasting, detrimental effects. An analysis of corporal punishment by Gershoff (2002) found overwhelming evidence to this theory. Gershoff argues that while corporal punishment may stop behaviors at specific instances, it does not help children morally internalize right from wrong; it's only a quick fix. Gershoff also found that the use of corporal punishment was found to increase aggression in children, especially in children aged 10 to 12, and increase delinquent and antisocial behaviors in children as well as decrease their mental health well into adulthood. Lastly, adults who were hit as children were found to be more likely to be involved in crime and abuse their own children or spouses in adulthood.
In light of existing research and personal beliefs I am a firm opponent of corporal punishment. Instead of protecting a parents right to hit their children, legislation should protect children. In fact, seventeen countries worldwide Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Ukraine - have created legislation against the use of corporal punishment (Douglas, 2006). Sweden and Finland even accompanied their laws with a national campaign to teach parents alternate discipline techniques (Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006). The U.S. should follow suit and begin taking strides to end corporal punishment here as well, especially because the link between corporal punishment and physical abuse is so strong.
Although corporal punishment has been proven to increase compliance among children there are alternative ways of achieving this goal. For example, instead of spanking or hitting a child when they misbehave, parents can use a Time-Out system. If children are aware of the consequences of their bad behavior, they will be less likely to behave in this manner. If a Time-Out system is ineffective parents can take away privileges (i.e. watching TV, playing outside, canceling play dates) to reinforce the idea that their behaviors have consequences. It is also important to be consistent and reward children when they are behaving well so that they are aware of the difference between right and wrong.
Lastly and most importantly, the use of corporal punishment should be avoided as a means to discipline children because it teaches children that violence is acceptable and can be used as a means to change people's behavior. This is a dangerous life lesson for children to internalize. When confronted with a problem, children who are hit at a young age will reason that violence is an appropriate solution. Therefore, while some agree that corporal punishment is an effective means of parenting, it is clear that hitting a child has the potential to leave lasting and significant scars on a child's life.
References:
Benjet, C. & Kazdin, A.E. (2003). Spanking children: the controversies, findings, and
new directions. Clinical Psychology Review, 23, 197-224.
Douglas, E. (2006). Familial Violence Socialization in Childhood and Later Life
Approval of Corporal Punishment: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76 (1), 23 30.
Gershoff, E.T. (2002) Corporal Punishment by Parents and Associated Child Behaviors
and Experiences: A Mata-Analytic and Theoretical Review. Psychological Bulletin, 128 (4), 539579.
Ripoll-Nunez, K.J. & Rohner, R.P. (2006). Corporal Punishment in Cross-Cultural
Perspective: Directions for a Research Agenda. Cross-Cultural Research, 40 (3), 220-249.
Smith, M.S., Lindsey, C.R., & Hansen, C.E. (2006). Corporal Punishment and the
Mediating Effects of Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Gender Empathy in a Southern Rural Population. Cross-Cultural Research, 40 (3), 287-305.