There is a battle raging over the ethicalness of a parent to use physical force to discipline their children. Many studies have been conducted to test the effects of spanking and other forms of corporal discipline to milder forms of punishment. When these studies are analyzed it can be concluded that moderate spanking in 2-to-6 year olds seems to produce good results, shows that when mild discipline does not suffice with defiant 2-to-6 year olds, moderate spanking leads to reduced aggression, and that there is in reality not enough strong evidence that spanking, when used moderately, harms children. There are also people who claim physical punishment is borderline abuse and should never be used as a form of punishment. Another such argument
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Robert Larzelere summarizes a variety of prominent studies to show the outcomes of spanking. “Of the 38 qualified studies done, the outcomes divided almost equally into beneficial child outcomes (32%), detrimental outcomes (34%), and neutral or mixed outcomes (34%).” He compiled the results of 38 different studies and it did not show a negative impact of spanking, rather a neutral one. This is due to the fact that the results of studies on the impact of physical punishment vary widely. There are many different types of research and the specific factors being tested and even the criteria vary an unbelievable amount. In only tests that specifically strive to show the outcomes of physical punishment the beneficial outcomes would most likely have been higher. In any case, mild spanking definitely is not overwhelmingly negative and it is proven that a moderate usage of force can be …show more content…
When the evidence is thoroughly examined however, mild spanking can actually produce beneficial results because moderate spanking in 2-to-6 year olds seems to produce good results, when mild discipline does not suffice with defiant 2-to-6 year olds, moderate spanking leads to reduced aggression, and that there is in reality not enough strong evidence that spanking, when used moderately, harms children. The arguments against it claim physical punishment is borderline abuse and should never be used as a form of punishment, and that society has advanced and that bodily punishment is not acceptable anymore. These have been analyzed and it can be concluded the opposite is true. Nobody wants child abuse and it is important to realize why it occurs. Moderate spanking however, can be effective and there needs to be a fine line between proper discipline and the overuse of physical discipline
Robert Larzelere summarizes a variety of prominent studies to show the outcomes of spanking. “Of the 38 qualified studies done, the outcomes divided almost equally into beneficial child outcomes (32%), detrimental outcomes (34%), and neutral or mixed outcomes (34%).” He compiled the results of 38 different studies and it did not show a negative impact of spanking, rather a neutral one. This is due to the fact that the results of studies on the impact of physical punishment vary widely. There are many different types of research and the specific factors being tested and even the criteria vary an unbelievable amount. In only tests that specifically strive to show the outcomes of physical punishment the beneficial outcomes would most likely have been higher. In any case, mild spanking definitely is not overwhelmingly negative and it is proven that a moderate usage of force can be …show more content…
When the evidence is thoroughly examined however, mild spanking can actually produce beneficial results because moderate spanking in 2-to-6 year olds seems to produce good results, when mild discipline does not suffice with defiant 2-to-6 year olds, moderate spanking leads to reduced aggression, and that there is in reality not enough strong evidence that spanking, when used moderately, harms children. The arguments against it claim physical punishment is borderline abuse and should never be used as a form of punishment, and that society has advanced and that bodily punishment is not acceptable anymore. These have been analyzed and it can be concluded the opposite is true. Nobody wants child abuse and it is important to realize why it occurs. Moderate spanking however, can be effective and there needs to be a fine line between proper discipline and the overuse of physical discipline