by Shen-Li Lee

Created on: October 25, 2008   Last Updated: January 29, 2012

The argument on whether to smack or not to smack a child has been a long and hotly debated discussion. While some believe that only smacking can enforce certain rules upon a child, others believe smacking is unnecessary violence toward a child and constitutes child abuse. Some people believe that the choice to smack or not to smack a child should be left up to the each individual parent's discretion.

Should children be smacked in the name of discipline? Should the choice to smack be left up to a parent? Or should we outlaw smacking altogether?

Any parent reading the mounting evidence against smacking and the ill-effects of smacking on the developing brain of a child will find it a cause for alarm. So alarming, in fact, that it is critical that all parents be aware of the consequences of smacking before they inflict not only physical but emotional harm upon their child and irreparably damage their relationship with their child.

Why is smacking so damaging to a child?

Because smacking causes stress in a child that is no different to the stress a child experiences when being bullied or suffering from child abuse. Brain scans show structural and biochemical changes that affect social behaviour.

Cell death in the anterior cingulate gyrus affects a child's ability to moderate fear and to empathise. Changes in the brain's pathways affect a child's ability to manage stress and being more prone to being impulsive, aggressive and/or anxious. Long term changes to the adrenaline systems in the brain affect the ability to think clearly. Impairment in the brain stem has been linked to ADHD, depression and impaired attention. It also leads to more aggression and irritability.

Other changes to the brain have also been observed:

Decrease in size of the corpus callosum causing manic shifts in mood states reduced amygdala and hippocampus resulting in depression, irritability and hostility; and poor memory function effects to the GABA system making a child feel unsafe and constantly living in a state of alarm

Violent methods of discipline have also been linked to children with anti-social behaviour and increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, while non-violent methods of discipline is linked to higher cognitive function.

A common argument for the smacking camp is one that runs something along the lines of, "I was spanked as a child and I turned out okay."

A couple of other arguments stem from this point. Firstly, what is okay? Could it be that if we weren't smacked we might

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