American culture values physical safety, demonstrated by the presence of police, gated communities and other precautions against violence. However, many children do not feel safe in their own homes with the people who are charged with their well-being. Children can perceive spanking as a frightening assault, and the consequences ultimately can be grave.
Increases Aggression
It's difficult to find a better example of irony than watching a parent spank a child for hitting another child. Spanking teaches children that it is acceptable to use aggression to control the behavior of another person. Children who are spanked tend to have higher levels of aggression than children who are not, according to a study in the April 2010 "Pediatrics." The study found that 3-year-olds who were subjected to corporal punishment were more likely to show aggressive behaviors at 5 years of age.
Decreased Interpersonal Skills
Parents typically want their children to learn how to solve interpersonal difficulties without getting into trouble at school or with the law. Children who are spanked, however, might have more difficulty learning these skills than those who are not. While spanking is meant to correct behavior, not teach children how to correct the behavior of others, that is precisely the effect it can have. Sociologist Murray Straus, in a paper published in the October 1996 "Pediatrics," makes the point that almost all assaults by adults and about two thirds of homicides are "carried out to correct what the offender perceives as misbehavior." Straus makes the point that the line between corporal punishment and criminal behavior may not be easily perceived.
Harms Relationships
In the book "Current Controversies About Family Violence," Straus states that children who are spanked often feel resentment towards their parents, or even hatred. He goes on to add that children are more likely to respect rules and accept parental standards if they have developed an affectionate bond with the parent, which helps their subsequent moral development. Children look to their parents for safety, affection and guidance. Spanking might not be perceived as any of these by the child, especially if the parent is angry when disciplining the child.
The parent-child relationship is not the only one adversely affected by physical discipline. A research analysis published in the February 2006 "Journal of Interpersonal Violence" sheds light on one of the causes of family violence. According to the analysis, people who were physically punished as children are more likely to physically and verbally abuse their spouse, be controlling and have a difficult time seeing their partner's point of view.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Problems
The line between spanking and child abuse is one that's easy to cross. In fact, spanking is banned in 25 counties, as of May 2009. A study in the November 2003 "Journal of Marriage and Family" found that the harsher the disciplinary practices in a given family, the more likely the child would develop symptoms of depression and anxiety. These feelings can lead to drug and alcohol abuse. A study published in the August 2005 "Journal of Adolescent Health" found that youths who were physically punished were significantly more likely to smoke tobacco and use alcohol and drugs.
References
- "Pediatrics"; Mothers' Spanking of 3-Year-Old Children and Subsequent Risk of Children's Aggressive Behavior; Catherine Taylor, et al.; May 2010
- "Pediatrics"; Spanking and the Making of a Violent Society; Murrey Straus; October 1996
- "Current Controversies About Family Violence"; D.R. Loseke, et al.;
- "Journal of Interpersonal Violence"; Childhood Physical Punishment and Problem Solving in Marriage; Alicia Cast, et al.; February 2006
- Sweden.se; No Spanking Please!; Jonas Fredén; May 22, 2009
- "Journal of Marriage and Family"; Parental Discipline and Abuse Potential Affects on Child Depression, Anxiety and Attribution; Christiana Rodriguez; May 2003
