Children are annoying. They scream, yell, cry, spit, and refuse to move if not given what they want. At some points, one might even call them the spawns of the devil. Spanking has been a method of punishment for centuries. Some argue that because a child is not able to defend themselves, spanking is child abuse. Others argue that spanking is the only way to get their children to behave. But what are the effects of spanking?
In a study conducted by researchers at Tulane University, it was found that children spanked frequently at the age of three acted out more by the age of five. This study was led by Catherine Taylor, a community-health-sciences professor. Taylor controlled issues affecting the mother, such as depression, drug or alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, and whether the mother considered an abortion during the pregnancy. Even after controlling all these factors, she found that spanking remained a strong factor of violent behavior. Taylor says “The odds of a child being more aggressive at age 5 increased by 50% if he had been spanked more than twice in the month before the study began,” (TIME). A child’s aggression later in life is inspired by spanking at an early age. So, what are the other effects? …show more content…
Besides violence, what else can spanking lead to? Spanking puts females more at risk for depression, and males start to show signs of antisocial behavior. In a study conducted “at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, offers new evidence that corporal punishment causes cognitive impairment and long-term developmental difficulties” (Psychology Today). The study also shows that when a child is spanked, it erodes their developmental growth and it can also decrease the child’s IQ. It is said that spanking is a way for a parent to vent their anger with their