Introduction:
Although corporal punishment can be seen as a quick fix to disciplining children, decades of research has shown the long lasting detrimental effects this form of punishment has on children. Despite many parents still viewing corporal punishment as a necessary form of discipline, corporal punishment has been shown to lead to long lasting effects on the emotional and psychological well being of affected children. Research states that corporal punishment not only leads to negative long lasting effects, but also does not show a successful increase in long-term compliance of children (Bitensky and Gershoff). Essentially, not only does this method of discipline not hold to increase long-term compliance, but also leads to long-term negative consequences for children. This essay will explore the historical roots of corporal punishment of children, the detrimental effects of corporal punishment, as well as short and long-term strategies for enhancing awareness of the negative effects of corporal punishment.
History of the Problem:
The use of corporal punishment of children has roots tracing back to antiquity in many different societies, but is not a universal form of punishment. Corporal punishment is the use of physical force to cause a child pain as a means of disciplining or as a correction of behavior (Duong, et al.). While corporal punishment can be traced back to ancient times, it is not seen in every culture and can be justified to varying degrees. Ways of justifying the use of corporal punishment of children through religious means, cultural beliefs, and lack of regulations surrounding the issue (Durrant). Parents and caregivers may also choose to use corporal punishment due to the fact that their parents used it as a means of discipline. Due to the long history of corporal punishment in the United States, for example, there is now a strong intergenerational tradition of using corporal punishment in parenting (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). All in all, this form of punishment is often seen as a quick fix for disciplining children, as a method that has been used for generations, as well as a necessary form of punishment for effective disciplining.
While corporal punishment is still viewed as effective and necessary by the general population, there has been ongoing research showing that corporal punishment has long lasting effects on children (Duong, et al.). Although there has been decades of research published against using this means of discipline, corporal punishment remains, "one of the few forms of violence that is still accepted, normalized, and prescribed, albeit to varying degrees, across cultures" (Durrant). The intended effect of using this form of discipline would be to quickly fix a child's behavior. Corporal punishment has long lasting negative impacts on a child's emotional and psychological well being, and it is clear that the general population must be made aware of the impacts.
Extent of the Problem:
There is a significant amount of research available that shows how corporal punishment is detrimental to the health and well-being of children well into adulthood. However, "most of the world's children live in countries where physical punishment is allowed by law; as a result, 63% of children aged 2-4 years- 250 million children are regularly subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers (Heilmann, et al.). Physical punishment as a means of disciplining children has been used as a quick way to control behavior, and many parents and caregivers still use this method. However, studies over the past few decades have shed light on the negative repercussions of this type of discipline.
There were numerous studies in the early 2000s, which focused on a variety of factors such as parent age, race, socioeconomic status, etc. children that were spanked or disciplined using corporal punishment were linked to antisocial behavior later in life (Durrant). This research shows that being spanked or physically punished as a child has lasting behavioral effects later in life. There were also higher levels of alcoholism, depression, anxiety, the use of drugs and alcohol, and psychiatric disorders (Durrant). Physical punishment to discipline children has been linked to significant impacts in long term issues related to emotional regulation. In a review of 88 studies of the outcomes of 11 children that had been disciplined with corporal punishment, it was found that 10 out of the 11 children had links to aggressive behavior later in life (MacKenzie, et al.). In this study, it was evident that corporal punishment is not a quick fix, as some parents believe, but rather it is a method of discipline that has detrimental effects on children, even years after the punishment was inflicted. In another study, it was found that children were more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety at the time they were corporally punished as well as into adulthood (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). Further research has shown that parental factors such as warmth do not negate the effects of using corporal punishment, and the overarching consensus among professionals is that this form of discipline lacks long term effectiveness and appropriateness.
Repercussions of the Problem:
As research has shown, children react poorly to the use of corporal punishment, and may even show less trust and security in their parental relationships as a result. If corporal punishment continues to be used as a normal way of parenting, children will continue to be exposed to physical punishment that effectively erodes their sense of self worth, stability, as well as closeness to family. The use of corporal punishment can degrade the child-parent relationship over time, with the frequency of the use of corporal punishment being, "negatively associated with children's attachment security at fourteen months of age and with their self-reported attachment to their parents in adolescence" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). Although decades of research has shown the link between corporal punishment and negative effects of the emotional and psychological well being of children, as well as degraded trust between children and caregivers, many people still believe that corporal punishment, in small amounts, is beneficial. Another research article from 2000 stated that, "the effects of both mothers' and fathers' corporal punishment on changes in children's aggressive behavior was conditional" and could be made up for with higher levels of parental warmth towards the child (Peets, et al.). Many caregivers believe that since they are generally fair parents, then the use of corporal punishment every once in a while would not do much harm to their children. However, corporal punishment, in a study of 11 meta-analyses, had only one somewhat prevalent desirable outcome, which was immediate compliance. The negative outcomes in the 11 meta-analyses studied included, "decreased moral internalization, increased child aggression, decreased quality of relationship between parent and child, decreased child mental health, increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse, increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior, decreased adult mental health, and increased risk of abusing one's own spouse or child" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). There is overwhelming evidence, based on decades of research, that links corporal punishment to negative repercussions for children, regardless of perceived warmth or fairness of the parent involved.
As a society, there must be large reforms put in place to educate people on the facts of corporal punishment. This is an important issue because it is still widely being used, even though there is an abundance of evidence stating the case against corporal punishment. Although this issue is still large in many countries, there are forms of quick fixes as well as long-term solutions to address the use and prevalence of corporal punishment.
Quick Fix Solution:
It is apparent that there must be an overhaul of how parents and caregivers are educated about the documented ineffectiveness of corporal punishment. According to a 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine, "despite a large and growing literature spanning decades pointing towards the association between spanking and higher levels of aggression and behavioral regulation difficulties, the use of corporal punishment remains a widely used parenting tool in US families" (MacKenzie, et al.). Addressing the harms of corporal punishment used on children requires both short and long term solutions. One short term solution would be to spread awareness of the negative effects of corporal punishment on children, as well as addressing the overwhelming amount of evidence supporting this claim. Since many are online in this digital age, awareness could be spread on platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and X to properly inform parents and caregivers of long term risks associated with corporal punishment. The main dilemma with the quick fix would be figuring out the most effective and appropriate way to relay information to parents and caregivers. One study suggested that, although there are many factors related to the use of corporal punishment such as religious background, education level, socioeconomic level, "low income has consistently been found to predict the endorsement and use of corporal punishment" (MacKenzie, et al.). This likely could be due to the stress of living in a lower socioeconomic level, being reliant on government assistance, and generally having low levels of stability. This study highlights the need to use different methods of communication to reach different types of families and familial structures. The study showed that, "new mothers who viewed baby books with embedded educational information about effective strategies for managing child behavior showed less support for corporal punishment" (MacKenzie, et al.). This suggests that by gaining knowledge of corporal punishment, parents may be swayed to view it in a way other than just a normal part of discipline, as it is often seen. The study also suggested that parents of diverse backgrounds wanted to have messages produced from people who looked or were from the same culture as they were to truly believe the messages. It was shown that many parents preferred to have messages that relayed important facts, community samples, and concrete evidence that corporal punishment could hurt their children emotionally and psychologically (MacKenzie, et al.). Since this form of punishment is engraved into many different religions and cultures, it is of utmost importance to spread real facts, statistics, and information from reputable sources that show unbiased, unemotional language revealing the truth behind corporal punishment.
Another type of quick fix would be to implement a program in schools which address the theme of corporal punishment and its effects. This could be implemented on a school-by-school basis, with social workers, caregivers, etc. being invited to speak on the research behind corporal punishment.There could also be targeted interventions for parents deemed at risk of using corporal punishment such as new parents, parents with high levels of stress, or parents who are likely to use this form of discipline. This could be done in childbirthing classes or pamphlets could be given out at hospitals, daycares, community centers, child care centers, or outreach centers for pregnant women or expecting families. to provide information to new or at risk parents. According to Gershoff and Bitensky, many parents are "desirous of information about nonviolent alternatives to corporal punishment", and may be open to learning about new parenting styles (Gershoff and Bitensky). The long-lasting effects need to be emphasized and made widely-known. This may help parents who believe that corporal punishment is necessary because they were disciplined that way, because of their religious beliefs, or any other factors.
Long Term Solution:
As a long term solution, governments must step in to make and enforce regulations against the use of corporal punishment of children, while still advocating for reform through social media platforms and providing information about parenting classes. One example of a country enforcing regulations on corporal punishment of children would be Sweden. In 1997, the Swedish parliament amended the country's civil law code to ban corporal punishment of children by adults (Gershoff and Bitensky). The study concluded that with this legal ban in effect, there were many recorded results of changed opinions regarding corporal punishment as well as lower levels of use among parents. Alongside this legal reform, the Swedish government also began a universal campaign to inform people of the ban and distributed information and booklets regarding the rationale and research behind this ban (Gershoff and Bitensky). This legal reform led to positive effects. Some positive recorded results of this ban is that corporal punishment was seen as negative, support for corporal punishment decreased, and child injuries from results decreased (Gershoff and Bitensky). The study of banning corporal punishment in Sweden resulted in many positive effects, ranging from an increase in child's rights as well as decreased usage of corporal punishment. By seeing corporal punishment as a violation of the law, societies may be able to progress to fully understanding the negative outcomes. Laws must be reformed in countries that still allow corporal punishment in the present day. This could start with educating people through outreach programs, but should also be taken further into the government's hands.
The government could step in by ensuring children are protected under laws and regulations, such as that imposed by Sweden in 1977. In the United States, the first Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was accepted in 1974, but does not outright ban the use of corporal punishment of children which leads to mixed messages regarding what is tolerated and what is not (Gershoff and Bitensky). State and local governments should be in unison regarding banning the use of corporal punishment by parents due to the long-lasting negative outcomes for children. Governments could also increase knowledge surrounding different forms of discipline and increase parental involvement in ways that elicit positive responses from children. This could include coping skills such as free parenting classes, classes on coping skills during stressful periods, and overall increasing support from workplaces as well as society for parents.
Conclusion:
As insurmountable evidence from research has shown the ineffectiveness of corporal punishment as a means of disciplining children, there must be an end to this antiquated form of control. While corporal punishment has been used since antiquity, new research has shown that there are significant and long lasting effects of this form of punishment, as well as no studies showing that long term compliance increases with this. The detrimental effects of corporal punishment include "decreased moral internalization, increased child aggression, decreased quality of relationship between parent and child, decreased child mental health, increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse, increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior, decreased adult mental health, and increased risk of abusing one's own spouse or child" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). A short term solution would be to increase educational effort surrounding negative effects of corporal punishment, and the long term solution would be for governments to step in to protect children.
Works Cited
Although corporal punishment can be seen as a quick fix to disciplining children, decades of research has shown the long lasting detrimental effects this form of punishment has on children. Despite many parents still viewing corporal punishment as a necessary form of discipline, corporal punishment has been shown to lead to long lasting effects on the emotional and psychological well being of affected children. Research states that corporal punishment not only leads to negative long lasting effects, but also does not show a successful increase in long-term compliance of children (Bitensky and Gershoff). Essentially, not only does this method of discipline not hold to increase long-term compliance, but also leads to long-term negative consequences for children. This essay will explore the historical roots of corporal punishment of children, the detrimental effects of corporal punishment, as well as short and long-term strategies for enhancing awareness of the negative effects of corporal punishment.
History of the Problem:
The use of corporal punishment of children has roots tracing back to antiquity in many different societies, but is not a universal form of punishment. Corporal punishment is the use of physical force to cause a child pain as a means of disciplining or as a correction of behavior (Duong, et al.). While corporal punishment can be traced back to ancient times, it is not seen in every culture and can be justified to varying degrees. Ways of justifying the use of corporal punishment of children through religious means, cultural beliefs, and lack of regulations surrounding the issue (Durrant). Parents and caregivers may also choose to use corporal punishment due to the fact that their parents used it as a means of discipline. Due to the long history of corporal punishment in the United States, for example, there is now a strong intergenerational tradition of using corporal punishment in parenting (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). All in all, this form of punishment is often seen as a quick fix for disciplining children, as a method that has been used for generations, as well as a necessary form of punishment for effective disciplining.
While corporal punishment is still viewed as effective and necessary by the general population, there has been ongoing research showing that corporal punishment has long lasting effects on children (Duong, et al.). Although there has been decades of research published against using this means of discipline, corporal punishment remains, "one of the few forms of violence that is still accepted, normalized, and prescribed, albeit to varying degrees, across cultures" (Durrant). The intended effect of using this form of discipline would be to quickly fix a child's behavior. Corporal punishment has long lasting negative impacts on a child's emotional and psychological well being, and it is clear that the general population must be made aware of the impacts.
Extent of the Problem:
There is a significant amount of research available that shows how corporal punishment is detrimental to the health and well-being of children well into adulthood. However, "most of the world's children live in countries where physical punishment is allowed by law; as a result, 63% of children aged 2-4 years- 250 million children are regularly subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers (Heilmann, et al.). Physical punishment as a means of disciplining children has been used as a quick way to control behavior, and many parents and caregivers still use this method. However, studies over the past few decades have shed light on the negative repercussions of this type of discipline.
There were numerous studies in the early 2000s, which focused on a variety of factors such as parent age, race, socioeconomic status, etc. children that were spanked or disciplined using corporal punishment were linked to antisocial behavior later in life (Durrant). This research shows that being spanked or physically punished as a child has lasting behavioral effects later in life. There were also higher levels of alcoholism, depression, anxiety, the use of drugs and alcohol, and psychiatric disorders (Durrant). Physical punishment to discipline children has been linked to significant impacts in long term issues related to emotional regulation. In a review of 88 studies of the outcomes of 11 children that had been disciplined with corporal punishment, it was found that 10 out of the 11 children had links to aggressive behavior later in life (MacKenzie, et al.). In this study, it was evident that corporal punishment is not a quick fix, as some parents believe, but rather it is a method of discipline that has detrimental effects on children, even years after the punishment was inflicted. In another study, it was found that children were more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety at the time they were corporally punished as well as into adulthood (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). Further research has shown that parental factors such as warmth do not negate the effects of using corporal punishment, and the overarching consensus among professionals is that this form of discipline lacks long term effectiveness and appropriateness.
Repercussions of the Problem:
As research has shown, children react poorly to the use of corporal punishment, and may even show less trust and security in their parental relationships as a result. If corporal punishment continues to be used as a normal way of parenting, children will continue to be exposed to physical punishment that effectively erodes their sense of self worth, stability, as well as closeness to family. The use of corporal punishment can degrade the child-parent relationship over time, with the frequency of the use of corporal punishment being, "negatively associated with children's attachment security at fourteen months of age and with their self-reported attachment to their parents in adolescence" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). Although decades of research has shown the link between corporal punishment and negative effects of the emotional and psychological well being of children, as well as degraded trust between children and caregivers, many people still believe that corporal punishment, in small amounts, is beneficial. Another research article from 2000 stated that, "the effects of both mothers' and fathers' corporal punishment on changes in children's aggressive behavior was conditional" and could be made up for with higher levels of parental warmth towards the child (Peets, et al.). Many caregivers believe that since they are generally fair parents, then the use of corporal punishment every once in a while would not do much harm to their children. However, corporal punishment, in a study of 11 meta-analyses, had only one somewhat prevalent desirable outcome, which was immediate compliance. The negative outcomes in the 11 meta-analyses studied included, "decreased moral internalization, increased child aggression, decreased quality of relationship between parent and child, decreased child mental health, increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse, increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior, decreased adult mental health, and increased risk of abusing one's own spouse or child" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). There is overwhelming evidence, based on decades of research, that links corporal punishment to negative repercussions for children, regardless of perceived warmth or fairness of the parent involved.
As a society, there must be large reforms put in place to educate people on the facts of corporal punishment. This is an important issue because it is still widely being used, even though there is an abundance of evidence stating the case against corporal punishment. Although this issue is still large in many countries, there are forms of quick fixes as well as long-term solutions to address the use and prevalence of corporal punishment.
Quick Fix Solution:
It is apparent that there must be an overhaul of how parents and caregivers are educated about the documented ineffectiveness of corporal punishment. According to a 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine, "despite a large and growing literature spanning decades pointing towards the association between spanking and higher levels of aggression and behavioral regulation difficulties, the use of corporal punishment remains a widely used parenting tool in US families" (MacKenzie, et al.). Addressing the harms of corporal punishment used on children requires both short and long term solutions. One short term solution would be to spread awareness of the negative effects of corporal punishment on children, as well as addressing the overwhelming amount of evidence supporting this claim. Since many are online in this digital age, awareness could be spread on platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and X to properly inform parents and caregivers of long term risks associated with corporal punishment. The main dilemma with the quick fix would be figuring out the most effective and appropriate way to relay information to parents and caregivers. One study suggested that, although there are many factors related to the use of corporal punishment such as religious background, education level, socioeconomic level, "low income has consistently been found to predict the endorsement and use of corporal punishment" (MacKenzie, et al.). This likely could be due to the stress of living in a lower socioeconomic level, being reliant on government assistance, and generally having low levels of stability. This study highlights the need to use different methods of communication to reach different types of families and familial structures. The study showed that, "new mothers who viewed baby books with embedded educational information about effective strategies for managing child behavior showed less support for corporal punishment" (MacKenzie, et al.). This suggests that by gaining knowledge of corporal punishment, parents may be swayed to view it in a way other than just a normal part of discipline, as it is often seen. The study also suggested that parents of diverse backgrounds wanted to have messages produced from people who looked or were from the same culture as they were to truly believe the messages. It was shown that many parents preferred to have messages that relayed important facts, community samples, and concrete evidence that corporal punishment could hurt their children emotionally and psychologically (MacKenzie, et al.). Since this form of punishment is engraved into many different religions and cultures, it is of utmost importance to spread real facts, statistics, and information from reputable sources that show unbiased, unemotional language revealing the truth behind corporal punishment.
Another type of quick fix would be to implement a program in schools which address the theme of corporal punishment and its effects. This could be implemented on a school-by-school basis, with social workers, caregivers, etc. being invited to speak on the research behind corporal punishment.There could also be targeted interventions for parents deemed at risk of using corporal punishment such as new parents, parents with high levels of stress, or parents who are likely to use this form of discipline. This could be done in childbirthing classes or pamphlets could be given out at hospitals, daycares, community centers, child care centers, or outreach centers for pregnant women or expecting families. to provide information to new or at risk parents. According to Gershoff and Bitensky, many parents are "desirous of information about nonviolent alternatives to corporal punishment", and may be open to learning about new parenting styles (Gershoff and Bitensky). The long-lasting effects need to be emphasized and made widely-known. This may help parents who believe that corporal punishment is necessary because they were disciplined that way, because of their religious beliefs, or any other factors.
Long Term Solution:
As a long term solution, governments must step in to make and enforce regulations against the use of corporal punishment of children, while still advocating for reform through social media platforms and providing information about parenting classes. One example of a country enforcing regulations on corporal punishment of children would be Sweden. In 1997, the Swedish parliament amended the country's civil law code to ban corporal punishment of children by adults (Gershoff and Bitensky). The study concluded that with this legal ban in effect, there were many recorded results of changed opinions regarding corporal punishment as well as lower levels of use among parents. Alongside this legal reform, the Swedish government also began a universal campaign to inform people of the ban and distributed information and booklets regarding the rationale and research behind this ban (Gershoff and Bitensky). This legal reform led to positive effects. Some positive recorded results of this ban is that corporal punishment was seen as negative, support for corporal punishment decreased, and child injuries from results decreased (Gershoff and Bitensky). The study of banning corporal punishment in Sweden resulted in many positive effects, ranging from an increase in child's rights as well as decreased usage of corporal punishment. By seeing corporal punishment as a violation of the law, societies may be able to progress to fully understanding the negative outcomes. Laws must be reformed in countries that still allow corporal punishment in the present day. This could start with educating people through outreach programs, but should also be taken further into the government's hands.
The government could step in by ensuring children are protected under laws and regulations, such as that imposed by Sweden in 1977. In the United States, the first Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was accepted in 1974, but does not outright ban the use of corporal punishment of children which leads to mixed messages regarding what is tolerated and what is not (Gershoff and Bitensky). State and local governments should be in unison regarding banning the use of corporal punishment by parents due to the long-lasting negative outcomes for children. Governments could also increase knowledge surrounding different forms of discipline and increase parental involvement in ways that elicit positive responses from children. This could include coping skills such as free parenting classes, classes on coping skills during stressful periods, and overall increasing support from workplaces as well as society for parents.
Conclusion:
As insurmountable evidence from research has shown the ineffectiveness of corporal punishment as a means of disciplining children, there must be an end to this antiquated form of control. While corporal punishment has been used since antiquity, new research has shown that there are significant and long lasting effects of this form of punishment, as well as no studies showing that long term compliance increases with this. The detrimental effects of corporal punishment include "decreased moral internalization, increased child aggression, decreased quality of relationship between parent and child, decreased child mental health, increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse, increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior, decreased adult mental health, and increased risk of abusing one's own spouse or child" (Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor). A short term solution would be to increase educational effort surrounding negative effects of corporal punishment, and the long term solution would be for governments to step in to protect children.
Works Cited
