Corporal Punishment: Exploring the Discipline Wars
Corporal punishment as it pertains to the scope of this paper is defined as “physical punishment, [such] as spanking, [is] inflicted on a child by an adult in authority.” Generally, the punishment is carried out with an open hand or a tool such as a paddle, rod, or “switch.” The purpose of this text is to explore the use of corporal punishment on children as a method of discipline and how it affects them both short and long term. The use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary tool has a history that dates as back as far as the bible itself. On a global scale, the United Nations created a policy banning the use of corporal punishment in schools. All industrialized nations have complied with …show more content…
Some supporters of this position are the United Nations (UN) and many psychiatrists. The UN launched their own study into the matter before concluding their position. After concluding their investigation the UN deputy high commissioner for human rights, Kyung-wha Kang, went on record declaring, “Violence against children, including corporal punishment, is a violation of the rights of the child. It conflicts with the child’s human dignity and the right of the child to physical integrity. It also prevents children from reaching their full potential, by putting at risk their right to health, survival and development. The best interests of the child can never be used to justify such practice.” Moreover, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Child Psychiatry released a policy statement on corporal punishment in which they stated “Extensive research demonstrates that although corporal punishment may have a high rate of immediate behavior modification, it is ineffective over time, and is associated with increased aggression and decreased moral internalization of appropriate …show more content…
I have a deep rooted connection with this issue because of a situation that occurred in my household where the use of corporal punishment evolved into an abusive encounter between my ex-husband and elder child. My personal experience, and how it weighs on my child in conjunction with research leads me to favor the anti-corporal punishment position. There are scientifically endorsed disciplinary methods that do not use physical force and have equally effective results. While I am not convinced there is no substance to the claim that spanking has an ideal age range, the results are not conclusive enough to support the theory. Corporal punishment carries a risk of emotions getting out of control and leading to abusive situations which unquestionably leads to mental health disorders long-term. Additionally, using physical force to punish a child only teaches that child that violence solves problems, which has the potential to result in a more violent
Corporal punishment as it pertains to the scope of this paper is defined as “physical punishment, [such] as spanking, [is] inflicted on a child by an adult in authority.” Generally, the punishment is carried out with an open hand or a tool such as a paddle, rod, or “switch.” The purpose of this text is to explore the use of corporal punishment on children as a method of discipline and how it affects them both short and long term. The use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary tool has a history that dates as back as far as the bible itself. On a global scale, the United Nations created a policy banning the use of corporal punishment in schools. All industrialized nations have complied with …show more content…
Some supporters of this position are the United Nations (UN) and many psychiatrists. The UN launched their own study into the matter before concluding their position. After concluding their investigation the UN deputy high commissioner for human rights, Kyung-wha Kang, went on record declaring, “Violence against children, including corporal punishment, is a violation of the rights of the child. It conflicts with the child’s human dignity and the right of the child to physical integrity. It also prevents children from reaching their full potential, by putting at risk their right to health, survival and development. The best interests of the child can never be used to justify such practice.” Moreover, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Child Psychiatry released a policy statement on corporal punishment in which they stated “Extensive research demonstrates that although corporal punishment may have a high rate of immediate behavior modification, it is ineffective over time, and is associated with increased aggression and decreased moral internalization of appropriate …show more content…
I have a deep rooted connection with this issue because of a situation that occurred in my household where the use of corporal punishment evolved into an abusive encounter between my ex-husband and elder child. My personal experience, and how it weighs on my child in conjunction with research leads me to favor the anti-corporal punishment position. There are scientifically endorsed disciplinary methods that do not use physical force and have equally effective results. While I am not convinced there is no substance to the claim that spanking has an ideal age range, the results are not conclusive enough to support the theory. Corporal punishment carries a risk of emotions getting out of control and leading to abusive situations which unquestionably leads to mental health disorders long-term. Additionally, using physical force to punish a child only teaches that child that violence solves problems, which has the potential to result in a more violent