To spank or not to spank is one of the more contentious parenting issues. Sometimes the line between a parent's right to discipline a child and a child's right to be protected from abuse is ridiculously obscured. Claiming that a swift spanking on a toddler's bottom for touching a hot stove is physical abuse is as ludicrous as claiming that never spanking a child will produce a spoiled, undisciplined drain on society. However, no matter what side of the debate you are on, there are several good reasons why children should not be spanked.
Aggression and Anxiety
Children who are physically disciplined on a regular basis are at a higher risk of exhibiting aggression and anxiety. One culturally diverse study involving more than five countries published in the journal, "Child Development (Volume 76, November 2005)," found that children who were subjected to spankings as a primary form of discipline were significantly more likely to display aggression and anxiety. This was true across the board, regardless of cultural norms.
A similar conclusion was arrived at in another study conducted by Tulane University researcher, Catherine Taylor. She looked at aggression in 3-year-olds who were regularly spanked and compared the data to children who were not subjected to physical discipline. She found that the children who were spanked were twice as likely to display excessive aggression two year later.
Technically, spanking is striking another person and striking is by definition aggressive and violent. When one considers that children learn from what they are exposed to, it stands to reason that frequent spanking increases the probability of aggressive behavior. The aggressive nature of striking or spanking someone should not be minimized just because that someone happens to be a diapered toddler.
The threat of physical force produces anxiety in most human beings regardless of age, race or gender. When children are routinely spanked for every conceivable disciplinary issue, it creates a sense of anxiety within them. They learn to fear the threat of a spanking itself, rather than learn the lesson the spanking is intended to teach.
Empathy Impairment
Spanking does not teach children why a specific action is unacceptable. As a consequence, what the child really learns is that it is okay to strike someone when they do something he or she does not like. It teaches rigid thinking. It does not teach children to critically weigh contributing factors, which are inevitable in virtually
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
As a first time parent, we were expecting our child some ten years ago, after reading plenty of books and advise articles
Perhaps one of the greatest parenting debates of our time involves the use of corporal punishment. It has for the most
by Lisa Angel
To spank or not to spank. If a child goes to put his hand in a fire you should yell, "Stop!" "Don't do that". I would slap
Discipline or punishment; what is more effective in raising a child to be a good parent and productive member of society?
Spanking is a form of discipline that many of us grew up with. When spanking gets extreme, it can border on being abusive.
View All Articles on:
Reasons why you shouldn't spank
Add your voice
Know something about Reasons why you shouldn't spank?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Featured Partner
The Center for Responsive Politics (Open Secrets)
The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) is the nation's premier research group tracking money in US politics and its...more
hide