form of physical punishment requires pain to be administered, to essentially, get a point across. Children who have testified to being physically disciplined, admitted to feeling fear, anger and sadness towards their parents which results in their inability to internalize their parent’s disciplinary tactics. Not only do they tend to distrust their parents, they will also attribute hostile intentions to others which increase the possibility that they will behave antagonistically in all their social interactions. (Gershoff, E T) Spanking has been attributed to a range of unintended outcomes or side-effects. For example, those who experienced spanking as children displayed an increase in mental health problems both as children and adults, delinquent
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While it is universally agreed upon that spanking children younger than eighteen months, or after they have entered puberty or any physical punishment that exceeds mild to moderate can and should be considered abuse, there is no real distinction between mild spanking as a back-up to other corrective tactics and more severe forms of corporal punishment such as using a belt or a switch. (Baumrind, Diane p581) It can be argued that, the effects of mild spanking along with other disciplinary tactics, such as reasoning or redirection, is not often studied. Of course, harsh punishment that leaves welts or bruises can be detrimental to a child’s self-worth, but do light open palmed whacks on the buttocks cause negative long-term behavioral issues? In other words, likening mild spanking to child abuse is similar to the approach opponents of marijuana use when they suggest smoking pot leads to heroin use. That is, the issue has been over simplified to such an extreme that it becomes difficult to gain an honest perspective. (Baumrind, Diane p584) Finally, it becomes necessary to examine the individual relationship between the child and care-giver. If the punishment is well-timed and given within the confides of a healthy, mutually respective relationship, and only used as a back-up to other non-physical methods of discipline, a lower level of intensity of punishment would be …show more content…
In one study mothers of 2-3-year-old children were assigned to either a lecture only or lecture and hands-on positive guidance training which took place in an early childhood education classroom alongside an early childhood professional. After the study, it was determined that both the lecture only and the lecture and hands-on experience groups, increased their understanding of positive guidance. However, the hands-on group increased their use of positive guidance over time whereas the lecture only group did not. This can be attributed to the fact that the hands-on group experienced the benefits of positive guidance first hand and were more willing to implement it in their own homes. (Saunders, Rachel p. 331) In a follow-up study the 52 mothers who participated in both the lecture only and the hands-on training were asked questions to infer the level of comprehension they gained from the training, in addition to, gauging how much of it was implemented into their everyday parenting techniques. The study found that many of the parents still implemented positive guidance in their home and both the mothers and early childhood professionals felt the training was beneficial.
While it is universally agreed upon that spanking children younger than eighteen months, or after they have entered puberty or any physical punishment that exceeds mild to moderate can and should be considered abuse, there is no real distinction between mild spanking as a back-up to other corrective tactics and more severe forms of corporal punishment such as using a belt or a switch. (Baumrind, Diane p581) It can be argued that, the effects of mild spanking along with other disciplinary tactics, such as reasoning or redirection, is not often studied. Of course, harsh punishment that leaves welts or bruises can be detrimental to a child’s self-worth, but do light open palmed whacks on the buttocks cause negative long-term behavioral issues? In other words, likening mild spanking to child abuse is similar to the approach opponents of marijuana use when they suggest smoking pot leads to heroin use. That is, the issue has been over simplified to such an extreme that it becomes difficult to gain an honest perspective. (Baumrind, Diane p584) Finally, it becomes necessary to examine the individual relationship between the child and care-giver. If the punishment is well-timed and given within the confides of a healthy, mutually respective relationship, and only used as a back-up to other non-physical methods of discipline, a lower level of intensity of punishment would be …show more content…
In one study mothers of 2-3-year-old children were assigned to either a lecture only or lecture and hands-on positive guidance training which took place in an early childhood education classroom alongside an early childhood professional. After the study, it was determined that both the lecture only and the lecture and hands-on experience groups, increased their understanding of positive guidance. However, the hands-on group increased their use of positive guidance over time whereas the lecture only group did not. This can be attributed to the fact that the hands-on group experienced the benefits of positive guidance first hand and were more willing to implement it in their own homes. (Saunders, Rachel p. 331) In a follow-up study the 52 mothers who participated in both the lecture only and the hands-on training were asked questions to infer the level of comprehension they gained from the training, in addition to, gauging how much of it was implemented into their everyday parenting techniques. The study found that many of the parents still implemented positive guidance in their home and both the mothers and early childhood professionals felt the training was beneficial.