Corporal Punishment - Research Paper Example

Name Course Instructor Date Abstract Corporal punishment has received mixed reactions from various parties in the society. This form of punishment instills pain to children in process of instilling discipline. Various governments have also banned this form of punishment because of the many limitations. However, many are still adamant and still embrace this kind of punishment citing different reasons. Most of the teachers use these form of punishment because of their concern about the future of the children. They however do not factor in the negative effects such as stress and psychological trauma. This study uses questionnaires to gather information. Likert scale is used to measure the attitudes. In the discussion section, it is evident that this form of punishment has negative implications to children, society, and parents. It is therefore recommended that alternative source of discipline are adopted to help discipline and instill morals among children. Corporal Punishment Introduction Corporal punishment is one of the contentious issues that have received mixed reactions from different parties from time immemorial. Different people in society and especially the earlier generation used corporal punishment as a way of instilling discipline in children. In contemporary times, this perception, and practice has tended to change with people embracing communication and negotiation as a way of correcting someone behavior (Lenta, 2012). Corporal punishment is therefore, understood in various forms; one as use of physical force causing pain but not wounds and applied as a means of discipline (UNICEF, 2012). The punishment cause some pain and not injuries and administered through spanking, slapping, and rapping on the head hence, not classified as abuse. Other forms of corporal punishments include beating, flogging, branding, blinding, mutilation, and use of pillory and stock (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). Therefore, in broad sense, this kind of punishment denotes physical discipline of children at home and as well as schools. As stated earlier the concept of corporal punishment is something that was there in the previous centuries. For instance, in 18th century, societies applied the concept of tooth for a tooth and eye for eye when dealing with those that went against the set rules (Lenta, 2012). Corporal punishment was mostly used in those cases where death penalty or exile was not required. Corporal punishment began to fade away with the rise of humanitarian ideals at the enlightenment period as people agitated for its abolishment. By 20th century, most societies had already abandoned corporal punishment and replaced it with nonviolent penalties and or imprisonment (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). Most developed worlds have completely done away with corporal punishment and are no longer in their legal systems. In US for instance, last instances of flogging happened in 1952 in Delaware State and in 1972 it was completely abolished (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). British Criminal Justice act abolished whipping as a form of punishment in 1967 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). However, most of the countries in the Middle Eastern and prisons still use whipping and amputation as their prescribed punishments. Despite these variations, various international conventions on human right such as United Nations and European convention of human rights are opposed to any form of corporal punishment. Historical rationale that guided the use of corporal punishment has been that inflication of pain, humiliation, injury and degradation deterred offender from committing any of the similar offenses in the future. Cases where people or offender was amputated their hands aimed at ensuring that they do not repeat the offenses (Mortorano, 2014). Empirical evidence however refutes these claims that corporal punishment is an effective way to deter certain behaviors. These developments therefore, have enabled the society to ponder about effectiveness of corporal punishment in inculcating values and morals in people. This paper therefore, expounds on the aspect of corporal punishment aimed at enhancing understanding about the impacts of this form of punishment in this modern society. Method The research design was survey design. The study involved 100 participants; 50 male and 50 female. The participants came across California State. The schools were selected randomly as well as participants through simple random sampling. Those selected were send email indicating that they had been selected to take part in the research. In recruiting the participants there was no incentives provided. This was aimed at avoiding any instance of influencing the participants to respond in a particular way. However, participants were informed on the important of their contribution in the study. Likert scale was used to measure attitudes of the participants on corporal punishment. Attitudes have two aspects; positive or negative or for or against and intensity (strength) of the feeling (Aliosha, 2010). Items were generated by first collecting various statements pertaining to the corporal punishment. Afterwards, people were recruited to judge the statements by rating their direction of the statement- whether they reflected positive or negative attitude about corporal punishment. Neutral statements were not judged and were therefore discarded. The items (three in number) were formatted and their intensity measured. The three items were: Is corporal punishment one of the suitable ways of administering punishment?, Corporal punishment causes psychological impacts on the culprits and Corporal punishment has negative implication to children, parents and society. A score scale was computed by reversing the scores to ensure that all individual item scores lies on the same scale with regard to the direction. In reversing, the score such as 5 became 1 and 4 became 2, 3 remained, 2 became 4 and 1 became (Measuring attitudes, 2014). This was aimed at obtaining a single score that reflected the intensity in a single direction. The highest overall score was to reflect a positive attitude and a low overall core to indicate a negative attitude. The average scores/total score was used to characterize individual attitude. Data was collected through online surveys. The selected participants were as well informed about the study; its purpose and aims. The researcher got approval from the relevant institutions that granted the go ahead to conduct the study. The researcher also complied with the body responsible for issues concerning online research. The participants were sent a number of questions through their emails. They were required to fill all the spaces provided and assured that the information they provided was to be held confidential and only re-evaluated upon their requests. Their identity was also to be withheld. The participant experience was positive. 95% of the questionnaires were returned. The responses were analyzed using computer software tools such as SPSS. This tool was effective and convenient in analyzing the information and validating the scale score. Discussion Many ways exists of disciplining children and one of them is corporal punishment. In the past, many people have been subjected to this kind of treatment/punishment without them being traumatize (Mulvaney & Mebert, 2010). This, therefore, is an indication that if it is well utilized and applied; it has more value as opposed to its negatives. Despite this, the form of punishment as well has higher risks of causing emotional harm to children and therefore, it requires parents and the society to seek alternatives. Corporal punishment even though, is prohibited in most societies across the world; it is still rooted in many societies and is as well being passed over through one generation to another. Nevertheless, still many people have different take about corporal punishment. Those that resort to this form of punishment as captured from this study is that they consider it to be an appropriate form of disciplining and to children education. It also helps in relieving tension and due to insufficient resources such as inadequate counselors, to handle the situation. Some lack appropriate strategies to help them achieve that which they want and therefore resort to this kind of punishment. Other reason is lack of skills in interpreting the social situations under which this form of punishment is used. There are circumstances of situations under which this form of discipline is used effectively and promote positive outcomes (Zolotor & Puzia, 2010). Other uses this form of punishment because they cannot control their emotions. They therefore do not think about the consequences of their actions. All these justifications for or against concerning corporal punishment leads to similar effects- it harms everyone. It is therefore an ethical duty for every person to ensure that this form of punishment is avoided to help promote child capacity to grow as and a responsible and autonomous person. Corporal punishment has effects on the children and that is why many governments have been in the forefront of eradicating the practice (UNICEF, 2012). Corporal punishment lowers the self-esteem of children as it leads them to have poor self-control and as well promotes negative expectations. It also contributes to repeat behaviors, brands the children, and makes them to be victims and this contributes to their continued negative behaviors. Learning process as well as intellectual sensory and emotional development of these children is also affected by corporate punishment. Corporate punishment also makes these children to develop negative perception and attitude about the environment and the people that they live with (UNICEF, 2012). They view the society as a threatening place and therefore, it become difficult for them to be socially integrated in the society. It also becomes difficult for such children to cooperate with the authority as they lean to comply with the rules as well as infringing on the same. Such punishment may causes injuries to the children hampering their learning process. It as well may affect their psychology, as they may remain stressed and traumatized because of the experience they went through. Therefore, it is very critical for the teachers and the parents to avoid corporal punishment as it has ramifications to the children lives. Alternative disciplinary or behavior change methods should be used as an alternative. Similarly, corporal punishment has some impacts on the parents such as feelings of guilt and anxiety even if this kind of punishment is considered as appropriate. Violence among the parents also tends to increase among parents that use this kind of punishment. Aggressiveness behaviors among such parents in future are geared to increase in frequency and intensity. This kind of punishment also hinders communication and damages relationship between children and parents. It instills fear among the children making them to stay far away from them. This therefore affects the psychology of the children. Corporal punishment as well has some ramifications on the society (UNICEF, 2012). It contributes to increased use of violence and as well legitimizes it as this trend is carried and transmitted from one generation to another. The society becomes indecisive when it comes to using alternatives ways of restoring order and discipline among the children. It also contributes to broken family patterns, as there is no smooth flow of communication between the members of the society. Members are unable to discuss their issues as they develop believe that it is only through violence that people are able to change. It also makes protection of the children very difficulty. Some of the members of the society may use excessive force when administering this punishment. Members of the society will not be supportive in calling for such kinds of punishment as they approve the same. Many of the teachers and parents believe that corporal punishment is provided for the benefit of the child (Mweru, 2010). It is used to deter the children from committing certain behaviors and doing that which is correct. This form of punishment however has a negative ramification as it causes any problems to the children. It is very important that laws are set and adhered to ensure that children are not subject to this kind of torture. Children should be guide and counseled through communication. Conclusion Corporal punishment is something that has existed many years. It was used as a way to deter repeat of behaviors. However, in these modern days, it has lost its grip as many laws have been established to alleviate the same. In societies that corporal punishment is perpetrated, it has many consequences such as psychological trauma and deters communication. Reference list Aliosha, A 2010, ‘Characteristics of Single-Item Measures in Likert Scale Format’, Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, Vol. 8 no. 1, pp. 1-12. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014, ‘Corporal punishment’, Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/138384/corporal-punishment Lenta, P 2012, ‘Corporal Punishment of Children’, Social Theory & Practice, Vol. 38 no. 4, pp. 689-716. Measuring attitudes, 2014. Retrieved from: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/faculty_sites/sommerb/sommerdemo/scaling/attitude.htm Mortorano, N 2014, ‘Protecting Children's Rights Inside of the Schoolhouse Gates: Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools, Georgetown Law Journal, Vol: 102, pp. 481 Mulvaney, M, & Mebert, C 2010, ‘Stress Appraisal and Attitudes Towards Corporal Punishment as Intervening Processes Between Corporal Punishment and Subsequent Mental Health’, Journal of Family Violence, Vol. 25 no. 4, pp. 401-412. Mweru, M 2010, ‘Why are Kenyan teachers still using corporal punishment eight years after a ban on corporal punishment?’, Child Abuse Review, Vol. 19 no. 4, pp. 248-258. UNICEF, 2012, ‘What is the campaign “Educate, don’t punish”? Retrieved from: http://www.unicef.org/lac/spbarbados/Implementation/CP/Global/Educate_donthit_Save Manual.pdf Zolotor, A, & Puzia, M 2010, ‘Bans against corporal punishment: a systematic review of the laws, changes in attitudes and behaviours’, Child Abuse Review, Vol. 19 no. 4, pp. 229- 247. Appendix: Likert scale Instruction: Please indicate the level of agreement by cycling Item Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree 1. Is corporal punishment one of the suitable ways of administering punishment? 1 2 3 4 5 1. Corporal punishment causes psychological impacts on the culprits. 1 2 3 4 5 1. Corporal punishment has negative implication to children, parents and society 1 2 3 4 5 Read More

Corporal punishment began to fade away with the rise of humanitarian ideals at the enlightenment period as people agitated for its abolishment. By 20th century, most societies had already abandoned corporal punishment and replaced it with nonviolent penalties and or imprisonment (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). Most developed worlds have completely done away with corporal punishment and are no longer in their legal systems. In US for instance, last instances of flogging happened in 1952 in Delaware State and in 1972 it was completely abolished (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014).

British Criminal Justice act abolished whipping as a form of punishment in 1967 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). However, most of the countries in the Middle Eastern and prisons still use whipping and amputation as their prescribed punishments. Despite these variations, various international conventions on human right such as United Nations and European convention of human rights are opposed to any form of corporal punishment. Historical rationale that guided the use of corporal punishment has been that inflication of pain, humiliation, injury and degradation deterred offender from committing any of the similar offenses in the future.

Cases where people or offender was amputated their hands aimed at ensuring that they do not repeat the offenses (Mortorano, 2014). Empirical evidence however refutes these claims that corporal punishment is an effective way to deter certain behaviors. These developments therefore, have enabled the society to ponder about effectiveness of corporal punishment in inculcating values and morals in people. This paper therefore, expounds on the aspect of corporal punishment aimed at enhancing understanding about the impacts of this form of punishment in this modern society.

Method The research design was survey design. The study involved 100 participants; 50 male and 50 female. The participants came across California State. The schools were selected randomly as well as participants through simple random sampling. Those selected were send email indicating that they had been selected to take part in the research. In recruiting the participants there was no incentives provided. This was aimed at avoiding any instance of influencing the participants to respond in a particular way.

However, participants were informed on the important of their contribution in the study. Likert scale was used to measure attitudes of the participants on corporal punishment. Attitudes have two aspects; positive or negative or for or against and intensity (strength) of the feeling (Aliosha, 2010). Items were generated by first collecting various statements pertaining to the corporal punishment. Afterwards, people were recruited to judge the statements by rating their direction of the statement- whether they reflected positive or negative attitude about corporal punishment.

Neutral statements were not judged and were therefore discarded. The items (three in number) were formatted and their intensity measured. The three items were: Is corporal punishment one of the suitable ways of administering punishment?, Corporal punishment causes psychological impacts on the culprits and Corporal punishment has negative implication to children, parents and society. A score scale was computed by reversing the scores to ensure that all individual item scores lies on the same scale with regard to the direction.

In reversing, the score such as 5 became 1 and 4 became 2, 3 remained, 2 became 4 and 1 became (Measuring attitudes, 2014). This was aimed at obtaining a single score that reflected the intensity in a single direction. The highest overall score was to reflect a positive attitude and a low overall core to indicate a negative attitude. The average scores/total score was used to characterize individual attitude. Data was collected through online surveys. The selected participants were as well informed about the study; its purpose and aims.

The researcher got approval from the relevant institutions that granted the go ahead to conduct the study.

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