Why Parents Should Not Spank Their Kids - Research Paper Example

Why Parents Should Not Spank Their Kids Spanking is a common but most controversial method of instilling disciplining on children. Some parents argue that, it is ethical to spank children while others perceive that children are not supposed to be spanked. On the contrary, some parents conceive that spanking should be utilized when necessary such as when a child behave in an unpleasant manner. The controversy arises because spanking has been defined differently by both parents and experts. According to some parents, spanking means” slapping a child on the buttocks”(Straus 5), whilst to others it is a term that is generic for any punishment that is corporal hence not causing any injury to the child. As such, spanking can be in the form of slapping the hand of a child for holding something dangerous or forbidden. According to (apRoberts 1), spanking should only be applied when tactics including distraction and persuasion fails to work. He adds that, spanking of a young child less than two years (2yrs) is extremely ineffective as it instills anxiety and fear in him or her. Moreover, any discipline that depends on routine spanking, withdrawing child affection or yelling is unkind. As a matter of fact, utilizing of spanking as a punishment to a child should be immediately restored by affection after the point has been driven in. In the United States of America, the routine form of discipline that is widely used is corporal punishment (Straus & Kafman 550). Approximately, all parents spank their children at some stages of their lives. The national representative collected samples of data that highlighted that 94% of toddlers and 35% of infants are slapped or spanked by their parents (Straus and Stewart 58). Nevertheless, corporal punishment prevalence diminishes with child age but continues to be highly practiced as the child moves into the adolescent stage. To be exact, corporal punishment is accepted widely and considered as a form of discipline that is necessary and acceptable. However, corporal punishment results to negative effects on psychological adjustment of children. In that case, it corresponds to negative outcomes in their lives. This are such as, suicidal ideation, depression, child abuse, problem drinking and wife abuse (Gershoff 560). Most researches to a large extent have focused on corporal punishment effects on children in relation to childhood aggressive behaviors. Almost all studies conducted have proved that corporal punishment results to behavior problems. This are such as delinquency and severe aggression at all age. Even though less has been researched, there exist other forms of corporal punishment negative effects. Studies conducted have linked depression with corporal punishment (Holmes and Robins 30). For example, Straus (5) established that, individuals who were subjected to physical punishment by their parents during their adolescence stage have high chances of endorsing depressive symptoms in comparison to their counterparts. In another study, Straus reported that, adults who were subjected to recurrent corporal punishment in their adolescent have a likelihood of reporting suicidal ideation. In the light of the above, not all children subjected to corporal punishment suffer from its negative consequences. This is clear evidence that various factors may be protecting children from distress psychologically. Existing literatures on the resiliency and risks suggests that, whereas children may be prone to risk factors such as corporal punishment, the continuous presence of factors that are protective may reduce risk factors negative influence on children’s functioning (Garmezy et al., 110). Corporal punishment combined with parental support promotes positive attitude development in a child towards their circumstances and themselves resulting to satisfaction in a child life. The stress-buffering model by (Cohen and Will’s 320) claims that support characterized by understanding, acceptance and responsiveness may bar individuals from stressful events negative effects. Similarly, children might be less subjected to negative psychological impacts only if the punishment is used in a supportive parental context (Baumrind 890). Negative impacts of corporal punishment occurs when children views it as a form of parental rejection (Rohner et al 845). However, a child who experiences acceptance and love from the punishing or scolding parent demonstrates psychological adjustment positive levels despite encountering corporal punishment. In that case, parental support neutralizes the corporal punishment adverse impacts. Alternative to spanking The principal reason why most parents spank their children is because they do not have any idea that there are other alternative strategies of changing a child’s behavior that is undesirable. For any discipline to be effective, it should be used appropriately depending on the age of a child. Discipline methods that are ineffective are often based on expectations that are unrealistic. In that case, the following alternative methods can be used by parents to induce discipline to their children. Parents of infants: Applying spanking to infants inflames anxiety and fear in their lives. This is because they barely understand concepts of danger and consequences. Parents of infants should ensure that their living room are free from fragile and dangerous items, they should vacate the room immediately incase their temper is flaring and make sure that the baby is in a place that is safe and lastly, in case of danger, instead of slapping the infant, they should grasp their hands. Parents of toddlers: Disciplining of toddlers needs extra investment of energy, time and patience. It is vital for parents to identify appropriate and effective techniques of disciplining their children. For instance, it is not realistic when a parent prohibits toddlers from playing with dangerous items as they do not acknowledge the consequences associated with them. On the other hand, spanking is not an option as it does not give clarity to the consequences. As such, parents should use alternative methods consistently to enable their children learn from their mistakes. The methods are such as supervising the toddler for sometime while playing, avoiding direct conflicts with them that my inflame anger and frustration. Instead, as parents try a distraction or diversion, parents should also use the strength and size to eliminate varied situations. For example, carrying a child refuses to walk by herself or himself. Parents with older children: If parents apply punishment to their children, it should be logical and related to the occurred incident to give them a clue of they intend to pass across Similarity they should settle on the appropriate time-outs even though this method of punishment is quite controversial. On the contrary, if it is effectively used, it can help in eliminating a cycle of behaviors that are inappropriate. In addition to that, parents should try and understand the child feelings behind their actions and also support ethical behaviors. Conclusion The existing controversies on whether or not children should be spanked by their parents, is not a question that is easy to answer. Nevertheless, generally, the discipline processes such as spanking is among the principal factors that needs consideration. Before a parent decides to discipline his or her child, he or she should have a vivid picture on what he or she wants to accomplish. Additionally, parents utilizing spanking as corporal punishment should show love and support to their children. These two factors are significant in eliminating incidents such as distress, rejection, depression, aggressive behaviors and suicidal incidents. Spanking should not be used to induce pain to a child. Instead it should be used to direct a child to behave in an appropriate manner. Infants and toddlers need to be spared from spanking as this form of discipline instills fear and anxiety in them. As such, alternative forms of punishment should be utilized where spanking is not necessary. In summary, corporal punishment effects such as depression and aggressiveness among others are often moderated by the support of a parent. Works Cited apRoberts, Aston. (2007, Feb 10). To spank or not to spank: That is the question many parents are debating as a legislator proposes to outlaw the practice. McClatchy - Tribune Business News, pp. 1-1. Baumrind, Davis. “Effects of authoritative parental control on child behavior.” Child Dev37 (1996): 887–907. Print Cohen, Stewart., and Wills, Turner. “Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis”. Psychol. Bull 98(1985): 310–357. Print. Garmezy, Nelson, Masten, Aiken., and Tellegen, Andrews. “The study of stress and competence in children: A building block for developmental psychopathology.” Child Dev. 55(1984): 97–111. Gershoff, Eron.” Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review.” Psychol. Bull 128(2002): 539–579. Holmes, Salvotore., and Robins, Laurine. “The role of parental disciplinary practices in the development of depression and alcoholism. Psychiatry 51(1998): 24–35. Print Rohner, Robins., Bourque, Scarr, and Elordi, Cooley. “Children’s perceptions of corporal punishment, caretaker acceptance, and psychological adjustment in a poor, biracial southern community. J. Marriage Fam. 58(1996): 842–852. Print Straus, Murray and Stewart, Justine.” Corporal punishment by American parents: National data on prevalence, chronicity, severity, and duration, in relation to child and family characteristics”. Clin. Child Fam. Psychol2(1994): 55–70.Print Straus, Murray. Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families and Its Effect on Children, Lexington Books, New York, 1994. Print. Straus, Murray., and Kaufman Kantor, Gordon.” Corporal punishment of suicide, alcohol abuse, child abuse, and wife beating.” Adolescence 29(1994): 543–562. Print Read More