Corporal Punishment and Children Behavior - Essay Example

Corporal Punishment and Children Behavior Introduction Corporal punishment continues to be widely used as a technique to discipline children in many families. It is defined by Mulvaney and Mebert as the using physical force intending to cause pain on a child, but not injury, with the aim of correcting or controlling the behavior of such a child (389). As noted by Aucoin et al., it is still used by 94% of parents, administered almost thrice in a week (527). Such parents acknowledge the parental obligation to discipline children and as such opt for corporal punishment. However, this approach has been criticized within psychological and child development communities due to the involved aggression which imparts aggression, low self-esteem, delinquency and negative cognitive and psychological achievement in children, hence the limitations in achieving behavioral gains. Therefore, families should not adopt corporal punishment as a technique of teaching children how to behave as it impacts negatively on behavior, both in the short term and long term. Increasingly, research studies point out to the unintended negative consequences of corporal punishment. First, corporal punishment increases aggression among children as they appreciate physical violence as a form of solving conflicts, just as applied by their parents. Corporal punishment entails use of physical force which exhibits a positive curvilinear relationship with aggression in children. In fact, while vouching for the need for legislation against this form of punishment, Smith cites the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child referring to it as “legalized violence against children.” A review of various research studies by Elliman and Lynch (197) indicates that corporal punishment results in the child complying with the parental demands immediately after being hit, but for a short term. Such a child does not learn what the desired good is and hence the threat of need for greater frequency and intensity of corporal punishment so as to maintain the compliance. This causes significant physical abuse among the children exposed to corporal punishment. Humphrey and Schmalleger observe that in school, such children are twice more likely to attack other children physically within 6 months (121). Further, such children exhibit tendencies of abuse of child or partner late in life. They become antisocial and have the sense of conscience, moral internalization and empathy in them significantly reduce (Aucoin, Frick, and Bodin 528). Therefore, corporal punishment does not cause positive behavioral gains, but rather arouses and propagates aggression in children. Corporal punishment has also been noted to increase the likelihood of children becoming delinquent. In fact, as noted by Aucoin, Frick, and Bodin (529), corporal punishment could lead to behavioral problems as opposed to behavioral problems leading to corporal punishment. As such, these children develop delinquent behaviors later in life. Continued use of corporal punishment upholds delinquent behavior, such trouble at school and lying, two years later (Humphrey and Schmalleger 120). Indeed, a research study documented by Elliman and Lynch on 4,888 residents of Ontario aged below 65 with no history of sexual or physical violence, but reported being spanked or slapped, exhibited significantly higher tendencies of alcohol abuse, dependence and anxiety disorders (197). It should therefore be appreciated that whereas corporal punishment aims at instilling desirable behavior in a child, it could lead to delinquency in children. The third negative impact of corporal punishment entails the lowering of self-esteem among children, together with causing depression. The physical pain that children endure as a result of corporal punishment causes a rise of bitterness in them. With limited opportunities to release such feelings, such children end up being stressed and eventually depressed. Children who have been through years of emotional pain as a result of being physically beaten by their parents tend to consider themselves not fit to be parents. They fear parenthood due to the fear of hurting their children the same way they were hurt. Straus, Douglas and Medeiros link depression and low self-esteem to the recent shootings in schools which were related to corporal punishment by parents (147). It even gets worse if the child is physically punished in front of peers. It completely lowers the self-esteem of this child. Finally, corporal punishment contributes to poorer cognitive and psychological functioning of children. The children who are physically punished by their parents tend to lack the knowledge of differentiating what is wrong from what is right. This causes such persons to end up being liars and experience difficulties in forming trust in relationships. It becomes difficult for them to be comfortable in engaging in romantic relationships, and if they do, it becomes abusive. This psychological damage explains how corporal punishment is being passed down through generations (Straus, Douglas and Medeiros 131). Because of the fear of physical punishment, such children would not inquire on matters in which they need clarity. This causes such persons to remain largely in the dark with regards to the knowledge being handed over to them, such as in a school setting. This results in such children performing poorly in exhibiting tendencies of poor cognitive traits. These negative effects of corporal punishment have been appreciated in many countries around the world. Consequently, Smith documents that 30 countries around the world have banned corporal punishment of children. This covers all settings, including home. Rather than criminalizing parents who still use this form of punishment, these legal bans have been adopted as tools to educate the public on the importance of abandoning corporal punishment. Parents have been increasingly advised to adopt positive reinforcement approaches and effusive praise in rewarding good behavior in children. Parents should be observant of the school and home environment of their children and address issues that could lead to undesirable behaviors as opposed to waiting until a mistake happens then punish the child. Communication aimed at resolving conflicts has been observed to yield positive behavioral outcomes (Mulvaney and Mebert 393). This calls for the building of a trusted relationship between parents and their children. Further, being an emergent approach, there would be need for parenting training so as to equip parents with the appropriate behavior influence mechanisms. Even with these indications, there still exist arguments for corporal punishment on the behavior of children. According to such arguments, the negative outcomes documented as a result of corporal punishment could be linked to parenting style rather than specifically to corporal punishment. Even though corporal punishment predicted delinquency and aggressiveness, the impact become insignificant after parental involvement was controlled (Mulvaney and Mebert 390). Moreover, the low esteem that has been linked to corporal punishment becomes insignificant with the enhancement of positive communication in the relationship between the parent and the child. Nonetheless, Straus, Douglas, and Medeiros (231) consider such persons who resort to corporal punishment as a way of instilling desirable behavior in their children as people who take that advantage to compensate for their own self-esteem issues. With such misplaced objective, corporal punishment fails to yield the desired behavioral outcome. Conclusion From its definition, corporal punishment does not aim at inflicting pain on a child. However, an increasingly frequency and intensity of corporal punishment needed to cause positive behavioral outcome leads parents to physically abuse children in the process. It causes aggression, delinquency, low self-esteem and poor cognitive and psychological functioning in children. More so, approaches such as communication, positive reinforcement and averting negative behaviors have been noted to positively impact on children’s behaviors. Those parents using it find it find it an appropriate avenue to compensate for their esteem issues. Thus, corporal punishment should not be used by families as a way of punishing children so as to realize the desired behavioral outcomes. Works Cited Aucoin, K. J., P. J. Frick, and S. D. Bodin. “Corporal Punishment and Child Adjustment.” Journal of Applied Development Psychology 27 (2006): 527 – 541. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Elliman, D., and Lynch, M. A. “The Physical Punishment of Children.” Archives of Diseases in Childhood 83.3 (2000): 196 – 198. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Humphrey, J. A., and F. Schmalleger. Deviant Behavior. 2nd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Mulvaney, M. K., and C. J. Mebert. “Parental Corporal Punishment Predicts Behavior Problems in Early Childhood.” Journal of Family Psychology 21.3 (2007): 389 – 397. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Smith, Brendan L. “The Case Against Spanking.” American Psychological Association 43.4 (2012). Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Straus, M. A., E. M. Douglas, and R. A. Medeiros. The Primordial Violence: Spanking Children, Psychological Development, Violence, and Crime. New York, NY: Routledge, 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Read More