There is always controversy around spanking, and the newest research is sure to spark some more.
Newsweek reported new research on spanking and the data suggested that if there is a cultural view that spanking is a normal consequence for bad behavior, kids of that culture were not negatively effected by the occasional use of the punishment.
It is important to note that spanking, in this instance, is defined as a quick swat on the butt, infrequently, to immediately right wrong behavior, such as when a child puts themselves in a dangerous situation, is engaging in dangerous behavior, or is acting in an inappropriate manner.
To clear it up a bit, the research suggested that “in cultures and communities where spanking is common, parents are less agitated when administering spankings” and parents who almost never spank, but frequently lose their tempers, can be worse than spanking frequently.
Data on children that have never been spanked is hard to find as it is hard to find children who have never been spanked. However, parenting has shifted in recent years, and with alternative ways of disciplining, many parents are vowing to never lay a hand on their child. But is that what is best for them?
Dr. Marjorie Gunnoe is working with the first group of teens in a new population study underway called Portraits of American Life. Gunnoe is currently interviewing the first wave of participating teens to see how spanking has effected the way they are growing up.
The study asked teens how old they were when their last spanking occurred, and how frequently they were spanked as children. That was then compared to the many popular fears people have about spanking in the future: antisocial behavior, early sexual activity, physical violence, and depression.
Gunnoe also looked into positive consequences, which many researchers don’t bother with, such as academic success, college goals, confidence and future career goals.
The outcome was surprising: those teens who had been spanked only between the ages of 2 to 6 were performing better in almost every area as teenagers than those who’d never been spanked.
The more ‘new age’ parents who never spank may be at a disadvantage. Many people say that children that are babied never learn to make it in the cold, harsh world on their own, but is it a matter of spanking, or is it a matter of substituting the spanking with an equally consistent and effective form of punishment?
Comments
PDeverit
January 5th, 2010 - 12:16:07 PM
Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE: Child buttock-battering (euphemistically labeled "spanking","swatting","switching","smacking", "paddling",or other cute-sounding names) for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit. Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit. I think the reason why television shows like "Supernanny" and "Dr. Phil" are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do. There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn't a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals: Plain Talk About Spanking by Jordan Riak, The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children by Tom Johnson, NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D. Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit www.nospank.net. Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn't a good idea: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center For Effective Discipline, Churches' Network For Non-Violence, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Parenting In Jesus' Footsteps, Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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PDeverit
January 5th, 2010 - 12:16:40 PM
The vast majority of professionals agree that child buttock-battering isn’t healthy. A marginal few (mostly religious fundamentalists as those at Calvin) think that child bottom-slapping is good. They use the same selective literalist interpretation of the Bible as was used to justify “witch”-burning, depraved torture methods for those accused of sin and heresy, slavery, racism, wife-beating, oppression of women and a host of other social ills.
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Aaln
January 28th, 2010 - 9:46:20 PM
"buttock-battering"... really? That does not even sound like a scientific term. Did you make that up just for your angry, anti-scientific rant?
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