Is Corporal Punishment Needed to Discipline Children - Term Paper Example

Corporal Punishment Introduction Corporal punishment de s a form of correction defined by the use of physical force, triggering pain and discomfort. A range of actions falls under the category of corporal punishment including spanking, kicking, slapping, pinching, kneeling, and hitting,. Many debates have emerged concerning the relevance and efficiency of corporal punishment. These debates have highlighted critical issues and concerns surrounding corporal punishment. This form of correction has proved itself a social problem in some nations such as the United States of America. Moreover, the fact that an international convention concerning corporal punishment was formulated and many nations have adopted ad ratified the convention highlights the criticality of the issue. Evidently, corporal punishment is an ineffective disciplinary strategy that has multiple negative outcomes. This paper will discuss whether corporal punishment is a necessary form of punishment, and highlight the issues surrounding the debate on this subject. Although many parents and schools have exhibited a regular use of corporal punishment in a bid to impart discipline in children, research indicates that physical punishment registers little success. Many of the supporters of this form of punishment opine that the pain induced or the discomfort caused suffices as a reason for children to exhibit a higher level of discipline. However, evidence suggests that corporal punishment may compel a child to abstain from the mistake at that specific moment, but does fails to offer the child with a basis for change in behavior (Donnelly, 2005). Therefore, many children relapse into the same mistake. Other studies reveal that children will be cautious only in the presence of the person who administers the physical punishment, but are likely to repeat a similar pattern of behavior in the absence of the parent or teacher. Evidence from research reveals that corporal punishment registers a range of adverse effects on children. In cases of excessive physical punishment, children may have marks, and different forms of injury. However, the psychological trauma resulting from physical punishment is gross, and has the potential of registering long-term effects on the child. The child will exhibit fear distress, trauma, anger, and hatred. These feeling only soar each time the parent accelerates or repeats physical punishment. In the case of parents, corporal punishment can serve to distance children from them. The fear resulting from corporal punishment hinders children from expressing themselves before their parents. Moreover, it may cause children to develop negative feelings towards their parents and themselves. The distress resulting from corporal punishment affects other aspects of the life of the children adversely. Many children may remain gloomy, isolate themselves from peers, and may register low grades in school (Sajkowska, & Wojtasik, 2005). Although corporal punishment may present children with the compulsion to comply immediately, it has the potential of triggering long-term aggression. The child may not exhibit the developing aggression immediately, but the negative feelings harbored deep within form the basis of an aggravated aggression (Federle, 2013). They may exhibit the aggression with peers, and later in life, they manifest rebellion. In other cases, children may exhibit anti-social behavior. Evidently, each child deserves to have a healthy social life, and children denying children this form, of growth by adopting ineffective forms of correction is out of place. Stagnated social growth has adverse effects in adulthood, making it difficult for the adults to handle social cues. Research has revealed that the effects of corporal punishment depend on a range of factors. One of the factors defined to worsen the adverse effects is severity of physical punishment. Moreover, some parents use corporal punishment alongside other strategies, a factor serves to determine the level of compliance or long-term effects exhibited by the children. Some parents administer corporal punishment in an emotional way, a factor that triggers resentment in the children. Such resentment affects the attitude adopted by children as they comply with the defined behavioral pattern. Notably, corporal punishment serves to strain the parent-child relationship. Additional research indicates that children subjected to corporal punishment may develop mental and cognitive problems. This affects their cognitive skills adversely, with registered low intelligence levels (Donnelly, 2005). According to international human rights law, subjecting human adults to any of physical assault is illegal. People who contravene the law and assault others face stringent punishment. It is ironical that children, with a higher level of vulnerability should have exposure to corporal punishment (Durrant et al, 2005). The recognition of the fact that children deserve protection from physical harm was the basis of the formulation of an international convention. That convention recognizes children have rights that need protection. The reinforcement of the convention ensures that children are not subject to the adverse effects of corporal punishment. This convention has served to minimize cases of corporal punishment in many nations. Many nations have exhibited the readiness to reinforce the international convention. The United States of America has declined to adopt the international convention on the protection of children rights. This factor explains why a remarkable percentage of Americans still exhibit the misguided perspective that corporal punishment is an effective method of inculcating discipline. Evidently, the issue of corporal punishment has exhibited surging rates to a level where it has been identified as a soaring social problem. Many of the children subjected to corporal punishment have exhibited the adverse effects described above, with many adolescents exhibiting increased aggression and rebellion. The prevalence of corporal punishment in the United States explains why many children are unaware of resolving issues with their peers, and only exhibit aggression (Mitchell, 2008). Many supporters of corporal punishment are yet to accept the findings from research that indicate its adverse effects. Other supporters have highlighted that mild physical punishment delivered alongside other disciplinary actions with the right attitude may register a level of success. Alternative Disciplinary Methods However, research has revealed that there are alternative methods of discipline that can replace corporal punishment. One of the effective strategies of imparting discipline is children is talking and listening. When a parent accords children an opportunity to express their inner feelings, they feel dignified, and are likely to listen to the advice regarding change of behavior. This presents the parents and teachers with an opportunity to offer guidelines on the change of behavior to children (Durrant et al, 2005). An effective session should help children understand the basis for wrongdoing, and the moral value of acceptable behavior. This will help children exhibit a pattern of acceptable behavior, with an inner conviction that it presents a high moral value. Reinforcement is an effective motivational strategy whose efficiency is proven by research. Research indicates that it can present multiple benefits in the process of inculcating discipline in children. Parents should introduce a reward system as a form of positive reinforcement. Although this should not form the basis of adopting acceptable behavior, it has the potential of motivating children towards exhibiting impressive behavior. Moreover, negative reinforcement may motivate children to exhibit acceptable behavior. Negative reinforcement involves withdrawal of certain privileges. This imparts children with the knowledge that some actions will present undesirable consequences. Therefore, they will avoid such actions (Donnelly, 2005). Conclusion Evidently, the current research findings have served to highlight that corporal punishment is ineffective, violates the right of children, and presents a diverse range of adverse effects. There is a salient need to protect children who exhibit a high level of vulnerability, and adopt alternative and effective strategies of inculcating discipline in children. It is essential for parents and schools to adopt a new attitude towards new disciplinary strategies in the future. Further research will reveal other effects of corporal punishment. References Donnelly, M. (2005). Corporal punishment of children in theoretical perspective. New Haven [u.a.: Yale Univ. Press. Durrant, J. E., Power, F. C., Hart, S. N., & Newell, P. (2005). Eliminating corporal punishment: The way forward to constructive child discipline. Paris: UNESCO. Federle, K. H. (2013). Children and the law: An interdisciplinary approach with cases, materials and comments. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. Mitchell, L. (2008). Corporal punishment and low-income mothers: The role of family structure, race, and class in America. Amherst, N.Y: Cambria Press. Sajkowska, M., & Wojtasik, L. (2005). Protecting children against corporal punishment: Awareness-raising campaigns. (Protéger les enfants contre les châtiments corporels.) Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publ. Read More