Spanking
Stephen J. Bavolek, Ph.D.
The Nurturing Parenting Programs®
Creating a Caring World Through Nurturing
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Spanking
• Remember childhood spankings?
• Why were you spanked?
• What were your parents trying to teach
you?
• What did you learn?
• If you spank as a parent, why?
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Gallup Poll on Spanking
1964
94% of parents approved of spanking
2004
68% of parents approved of spanking
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Straws (2001)
Corporal Punishment is likely to have
an opposite and undesired effect.
…rather than reducing inappropriate
behavior, Corporal Punishment is
likely to teach that physical
aggression is a normative and
appropriate way to solve conflicts.
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Recent Research Findings
• The effect of Corporal Punishment on anti-social
behavior is linear.
• Corporal Punishment does not deter anti-social
behavior but rather may increase it.
• Lower levels of Corporal Punishment may have
as negative an impact as higher levels.
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Simons (1994)
Corporal Punishment was negatively related to
quality of parent involvement -- the less time
spent with children, the more frequent use of
Corporal Punishment.
Corporal Punishment was negatively
correlated with the cognitive stimulation that
the parents provided to the child.
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Beal, M.D., Villarosa & Abner
(pages 124-125)
Black women are more likely to spank children
than White women. A Florida study of nearly
20,000 parents confirmed the hypothesis.
Author’s advice: “Don’t ever spank your child.”
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Rosemond: To Spank or Not to Spank (1994)
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Be quick about it.
Do not spank as a last resort.
Spank in anger.
Use your hand.
Apply hand to the child’s rear end.
Follow through with a clear, stern message
and if need be, restrictive consequences.
Spank only in private.
Spank only occasionally.
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Sears, M.D. & Sears, R.N.: Spanking (1995)
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Examine your motive for spanking.
Spank soon after the offense.
Help the child accept the spanking.
Explain why you are spanking.
Encourage a confession.
Choose a proper instrument (switch).
Follow up after spanking with prayer.
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Sears, M.D. & Sears, R.N.: Discipline Book (1995)
Ten Reasons Not to HIT …
1. Hitting models hitting.
2. Hitting devalues the child.
3. Hitting devalues the parent.
4. Hitting may lead to abuse.
5. Hitting does not improve behavior.
6. Hitting is NOT Biblical.
7. Hitting promotes anger in both parents & children.
8. Hitting brings back bad memories.
9. Spanking has long-term effects.
10. Spanking doesn’t work.
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Sears, M.D. & Sears, R.N.: Christian Parenting & Child Care
(1997)
When Not to Spank
1. Do not spank in anger.
2. Do not spank toddlers and young children.
3. Do not spank if you have a weak parent-child
relationship.
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