Corporal Punishment

Corporal Punishment
August 19, 2013

Introduction Corporal punishment, two words that raise so much emotion from fear, outrage, disgust, anger, pity and much more but exactly what is corporal punishment? When does punishment become abuse? Is corporal punishment acceptable in society? These and many more questions will be examined here. We will also look at some laws and the American culture toward corporal punishment. There is no doubt that children need to be held accountable and punished when they break rules, or is there? We will examine some of the pros and cons of the argument about corporal punishment. We will also look at the effects that they could bring about on the development of children. Also do people know the law about the use of corporal punishment, we will look briefly at what the courts and legislation view on this form of discipline. Also do you think age should matter when using corporal punishment and if so when is it ok to start and when should you stop? These and many more questions are the kinds of questions we will be examining briefly. Society has changed many times about corporal punishment. Like it or not there may even be effects from not properly disciplining your child. Children need multiple forms of discipline that includes the option of corporal punishment.
Discipline and Punishment In our society discipline and punishment are often used interchangeably. Discipline is one who receives instruction from another (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). When the word discipline is used correctly, it should imply a broad positive system of guidance (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). There are many forms of discipline one being inductive discipline. Inductive discipline focuses on encouraging a young child to think about the effects of their behavior (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). Natural consequence is another form of discipline where the discipline occurs naturally from the child’s own behavior (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). For example a child who refuses to eat simply goes hungry or a child that plays with fire will get burned. Logical consequence is a form of punishment where the parent gives a child an ultimatum in part of social order, for example a child is not settling down for dinner the parent may tell them to settle down or leave the table (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). There are many more forms of discipline that include spanking. Some statistics on spanking is as followed, father spank less than mothers, urban families spank less than rural families, Protestants spank more than Catholics, religious people spank more than atheist, black people spank more than white, older women spank more than younger women, and conservatives spank more than liberals (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). Some believe findings like these are important to understand serious threats or well-being of the child that spanking effects. Corporal punishment is the use of physical discipline with the intention of causing pain but no injury to correct or control (Cope, K. C., 2010). There is a big debate that is not about discipline but about corporal punishment. One side feels that physical punishment should be available as a disciplinary tool. The other side feels that it should not be used at all and totally opposes it. The disagreement has played out in the academic sphere, popular culture, and involves differences from parents’ rights, children’s rights, culture, religion, and such scientific cases for and against corporal punishment based on development (Cope, K. C., 2010). Kristin Collins Cope stated, “The goal of discipline, whatever the method, is to set reasonable limits that protect children from harm and teach them what is safe, right, and acceptable. Parents’ use of discipline is thus considered important and necessary for the well-being of the child” (Cope, K. C., 2010).
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Cons The number one complaint of all groups that wish to do away with corporal punishment is aggression. Corporal punishment is associated with an increase in aggression in children (Niolon, R., 2010). Treating aggression with aggression increases the risk for aggressive behavior by fifty percent (Niolon, R., 2010). To physically punish a child for aggressive behavior seems like treating a disease with the disease and would have an undesirable effect and would escalate thing even more. Corporal punishment also leads to antisocial behavior in many children (Berns, R., 2013). Studies have found that more boys get corporal punishment used on them and they also are more likely to show antisocial behavior (Cope, K. C., 2010). This would lead one to conclude that corporal punishment on boys would make anti-social behavior even more prevalent. Corporal punishment also affects the quality of the parent-child relationship. This in one part is due that most spanking has been found to happen after 5:00pm, which is prime parent-child time (Niolon, R., 2010). Also corporal punishment has been associated with mental health problems (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). It puts children at risk of emotional, social, and cognitive development (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). Also that corporal punishment leads to adult abusers (Niolon, R., 2010). Researchers think this happens because a child will think that aggression is common place in a relationship with loved ones (Cope, K. C., 2010). Studies have shown that two thirds of abusive parent-child incidents begin as an effort to discipline (Niolon, R., 2010). Also corporal punishment might serve as a vehicle for parents to release feelings instead of teaching the child appropriate behavior (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). More importantly some feel this leads to parents modeling aggression and angry behavior to the child, which leads them to think that it is alright to hit another person when you are angry (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). One research was careful to note that this does not mean that a child spanked once is likely to grow up, beat people, steal, and go to jail from one spanking (Niolon, R., 2010). There are many countries especially in Europe where corporal punishment is banned both in school and in the home. However in the United States only have the states have it banned only in the school with all the states still allowing it to be used in the home to the limit of what is considered reasonable (Cope, K. C., 2010). With that said it is up to state legislation and courts to decide what is reasonable, appropriate, and moderate with words used such as those, it offers little or no comfort to those opposed to corporal punishment (Cope, K. C., 2010). One study showed that schools that practice corporal punishment have a higher aggression rate in their students (Charlesworth, R., 2011). Other studies have shown that children who receive corporal punishment at home misbehave more at school (Charlesworth, R., 2011). While students that received other forms of punishment like time out, acted out less (Charlesworth, R., 2011).

Pros Some researchers say that corporal punishment serves its purpose better that the alternative discipline ways (Cope, K. C., 2010). They claim that when a parent is communicative and affectionate but firm, it will achieve positive results (Cope, K. C., 2010). Corporal punishment also gets immediate compliance or increases the likelihood of compliance (Niolon, R., 2010). After other forms of discipline fail, spanking is a good alternative or back up. Parenting is many things and corporal punishment can help a parent keep their child safe, control them, and show authority (Berns, R., 2013). Corporal punishment is less damaging than isolation of a child (Turner, P., & Welch, K., 2012). The effectiveness of spanking is dependent on the age of the child (Charlesworth, R., 2011). Some researchers say that the problem with the research data on corporal punishment is flawed in the fact the studies do not differentiate between an open handed smack on the butt from a closed fist to the chest (Cope, K. C., 2010). This would make it hard to draw a conclusion on the effects of corporal punishment and put it in the same category as abuse. They also say that researchers allow research about abuse to be included in their findings and some studies use the word beat or whip making the study more about abuse (Cope, K. C., 2010). Also many studies show that children who receive corporal punishment at home act out more than those who do not receive any at school (Charlesworth, R., 2011). Some researchers say that this is because those children exhibit more bad behavior and could have a conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder since the research makes no mentioning of those (Charlesworth, R., 2011). Some studies have shown that corporal punishment is more effective on smaller children, for instance smacking the butt of a three year old versus smacking the butt of a twelve year old (Cope, K. C., 2010). This research indicated that as a child gets older corporal punishment should not be used and other forms of discipline would come into play, such as grounding from friends, no television, phone, allowance, and various other privileges (Cope, K. C., 2010). It is very valuable to be able to stop behavior that can be very dangerous to a child or others. For example a two year that runs out in front of a car will learn faster from a swat on the butt, then being rewarded for stay on the side walk (Berns, R., 2013). Reasoning for this a two year old cannot see the logic in not running out on the road, so a concrete physical reminder may be needed (Berns, R., 2013).
My Thoughts Parenting is difficult no matter what and fraught with many life changing decisions, some good and some bad. However there is always a right way and a wrong way to do anything including basic discipline. Is discipling a child a matter of the courts? Should schools be allowed to use corporal punishment? One thing is for sure a parent should not hit a child out of anger or when angry. Also for parents who are afraid of the word abuse, there is a difference in smacking a child’s butt or hitting them with a paddle, hairbrush, wooden spoon, and a fist which would fit into the abuse category much better. My hind end has broken many wooden spoons in its day and has met the paddle a few times even in school which is not practiced anymore. One thing I have noticed in researching this topic is most articles that deal with corporal punishment and even the definition in certain dictionaries always mention canning, paddling, strapping, yardstick, rulers, and anything but an open handed smack on the behind. Perhaps a clearer definition is needed on what is acceptable and what is abuse. Perhaps some research could be done on children who never get disciplined or children that never get any form of corporal punishment. Some studies have said if used properly that spanking can be an effective tool. However it must be done at the right time, with communication, effectively, and firm. This I could see in moderation or when absolutely necessary after all given a good family life that is supportive should not make spanking detrimental to a child’s development. In my house hold we use spanking from time to time and it is more like a swat on the butt. I have four boys and they fight like pit bulls and are only two years apart at the most. The oldest is a teenager and I could not even tell you when the last time he got a swat, we wrestle and joke around, however he cannot even remember and told me he was the good one and never got a swat, I know he got at least a few. To me this means there is definitely an age limit to the use and effectiveness of corporal punishment, besides no Xbox or phone would just about kill him, so using other forms of discipline like withholding privileges would be more effective. The next boy is about eleven and is pretty much like the older one making it the same. The next one is about eight and he still gets a swat now on then, but is for more extreme things like running onto the road or playing with knives or fire, all of these being examples not what he really does. Even at eight he seldom gets a swat, withholding of privileges works just fine. The four to five year old is a little different; he cares not for privileges as much as the others, so using that discipline has no effect. He gets swatted definably more than the others, however he is at the stage where he is always pushing the envelope and wants to do what the older ones do. Plus have three older brothers who boss, pick on, can do more, and so on does not help, meaning he is real good alone, but when placed with the other three you have a hour until a incident. To me all this means that from about three to four I started spanking until the age of about eight or nine and then as fast as it started it stops. I started out parenting not wanting to use spanking, so what changed? We tried many methods and one we liked and thought worked well was time out, we used a corner and even the steps. One day one of the boys was crying and we went to check on them and I noticed the oldest standing in the corner. The one crying said he hit him and took a toy off of him. I asked the aggressor why he was standing in the corner and he related the same story, but at the end he noticed that he knew he was going to get in trouble and went to the corner, and then he said he had four min left as we set them on time out a minute for every year of age. We talked a bit and I discovered he thought it was worth it and that 5 min in the corner was nothing at all, so we began implementing different forms of punishment instead of using the same one over and over again. I feel that stories and incidents like this is why the prison system is failing, the time they serve in prison is not that bad and they feel that the punishment is worth doing the crime. However whatever way you correct or discipline your child one thing I can fully get behind is doing it affectionately, firm, and communicate with them.
Conclusion
There are two sides to every argument even the use of various disciplines. We have looked a little into other forms of discipline and discussed them briefly and of course they have their pros and cons as well. As parents it is up to us to decide to use or not to use corporal punishment, something we must all decide on our own. Perhaps there is also a neutral ground in this argument where the use of corporal punishment is not totally abandoned but seldom used. There is much more to look at with this argument and it all comes down to the parent, are you willing to spank your child if necessary? Also the reason and how you are administering the punishment? One thing is for sure, the definition of corporal punishment means different things to different people. Another thing for sure is that the argument or disagreement about the use of corporal punishment is far for over. Perhaps with more research from joint ventures of both sides could produce better answers for all. It is also nice to have one more tool at your disposal to help with parenting, and corporal punishment could be one of these tools, as long as it is not over used and performed appropriately. A few things to remember for whatever discipline method you are using is that the best way is to be affectionate, communicate, and firm a few things that cannot be stressed enough. Children need multiple forms of discipline that includes the option of corporal punishment.

References
Berns, R. (2013). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support, (9th
Edition).Belmont, CA:Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
This book was a text book in one of my child development classes. I really like this text book and use it quite a bit, because it shows how all forms of development are associated with the environment around us. This book is about intellectual and physical development using Bronfenbrenner bio-ecological development of the human organism. This book focuses on how socialization affects all and has a chapter just on parenting.
Charlesworth, R. (2011). Understanding child development (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
This is a text book from one of my classes and has a lot of information about cognitive development. This book touches on many different theories from a variety of psychologists and developmentalists. This is one reason why I chose this text book to use. It has a lot about the effect parenting and parenting styles affect the children. It also contains a part about various forms of discipline and how they affect children.
Cope, K. C. (2010). Retrieved from http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1569&context=lcp I chose this web site for it is more of a research paper on corporal punishment. This paper had a lot of good research and was more of a compare and contrast paper. It also did not seem to take a side and was just filled with information on both sides of the argument. This paper also has a lot on the various laws, both in the United States and abroad.
CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT-IN-SCHOOLS.jpg (2010). indiacurrentaffairs.org. Retrieved from http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT-IN-SCHOOLS.jpg Niolon, R. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.psychpage.com/family/disc.html
This website has many resources of the psychological nature and effect on people. It contains work from doctors using the latest research and is updated regularly. I also like how it stayed neutral and presented work from both sides of the argument. It also uses work from two researchers that I am familiar with: Gershoff and Baumrind.
Turner, P., & Welch, K. (2012). Parenting in Contemporary Society. (5 ed.). Pearson Education,
Inc.
This book is all about parenting and goes into depth about a lot of the aspects. This is the reason I chose this book, also it has a lot about discipline and how race affects discipline. This book focuses on various types of parenting styles and how each style can affect children. It also contains chapters about abuse in all forms from being physical, psychological, verbal, and many others.

References: Berns, R. (2013). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support, (9th Edition).Belmont, CA:Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Charlesworth, R. (2011). Understanding child development (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Cope, K. C. (2010). Retrieved from http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1569&context=lcp CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT-IN-SCHOOLS.jpg (2010). indiacurrentaffairs.org. Retrieved from http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT-IN-SCHOOLS.jpg Niolon, R. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.psychpage.com/family/disc.html This website has many resources of the psychological nature and effect on people Turner, P., & Welch, K. (2012). Parenting in Contemporary Society. (5 ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.