Corporal Punishment Essay Synopsis By: Karolyn Babik
THESIS: The United States should ban the corporal punishment of children as an ineffective method of discipline because of
its harmful effects, popular preference, and misleading messages.
ARGUMENT 1: Corporal punishment can lead to harmful emotional and physical effects on children; both short-term and
long-term.
Parents do not realize the harm they are putting their child through or what it may potentially lead to in the future.
o Dr. Murray A. Straus, professor of sociology and co-director of the Family Research Laboratory, University of New
Hampshire, stated in one of his 1996 studies: “The more children are spanked, the more anger they report as adults, the more likely
they are to spank their own children, the more likely they are to approve of hitting a spouse, and the more marital conflict they
experience as adults.”1
o Professor Sir P. Cohen stated in his 1996 study of generations: “Spanking has been associated with higher rates of physical
aggression, more substance abuse, and increased risk of crime and violence when used with older children and adolescents.” 2
o Boxing on the ear can burst an eardrum. Shaking can cause a concussion, whiplash, blindness, serious brain damage, or
even death. Spanking can injure muscles, the sciatic nerve, pelvis, coccyx (tail bone), genitals or spine. Hitting a child's hands can
injure bones, blood vessels, joints and ligaments; it can induce premature osteoarthritis. 3
o P. Greven, in his book ‘Spare the child: The religious roots of physical punishment and the psychological impact of
physical punishment abuse,’ says that, “Depression often is a delayed response to the suppression of childhood anger...from being
physically hit and hurt [by parents]...Melancholy and depression have been persistent themes in the family history, religious
experience, and emotional lives of Puritans, evangelicals, fundamentalists and Pentecostals for centuries....The first assaults on
children's bodies and spirits generally commences before conscious memory can recall them later. The unconscious thus becomes
the repository of rage, resistance, and desire for revenge that small children feel when being struck by the adults they love...the
ancient angers persist while the adult conscience directs rage inward upon the self.”4
EVALUATION OF COUNTER 1: Corporal punishment is needed because ‘nothing else works.’
All other forms of discipline seam unreliable
o Laurie Couture, a member on the Board of Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education states, “People who use
the argument "I’ve tried everything and nothing else works" often reveal that they haphazardly tried several techniques learned in
various books, without actually committing to or following through consistently with one approach.” 5
ARGUMENT 2: Corporal punishment should not be used as the initial or sole form of discipline for a child, as there are
many other disciplinary strategies that should be considered.
American parents choose to administer corporal punishment as a regular form of discipline.
o Over 90% of toddlers are spanked or subjected to other forms of corporal punishment, and almost 50% of adults recall
receiving corporal punishment as children. 6
o The American Academy of Pediatrics in an official policy statement stated, “Corporal punishment is of limited
effectiveness and has potentially deleterious side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents be
encouraged and assisted in the development of methods other than spanking for managing undesired behavior.” In particular, the
AAP states that any corporate punishment methods other than open-hand spanking on the buttocks or extremities “are unacceptable”
and “should never be used.”7
o Eric P Newell, Chancellor of the University of Alberta, in a 1972 study, found that: “The only way to maintain the initial
effect of spanking is to systematically increase the intensity with which it is delivered, which can quickly escalate into abuse.”8
o A.M. Graziano, J.L. Hamblen, W.A. Plante, pediatricians who studied the middle-class family, stated: “Parents who spank
their children are more likely to use other unacceptable forms of corporal punishment.” 9
1
Straus MA. Spanking and the making of a violent society. Pediatrics 1996; 98:837-842
Cohen P. How can generative theories of the effects of punishment be tested? Pediatrics 1996; 98:834-836
3
Straus, M. A. et al., 1998, “Identification of child maltreatment with the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales: development and psychometric data for
a national sample of American parents”, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 22, pp.249-270.
4
P. Greven, "Spare the child: The religious roots of physical punishment and the psychological impact of physical abuse," Knopf, (1991)
5
Couture, Laurie A. 10 Pro-Corporal Punishment Arguments & 10 Commonsense Answers. 2003. 20 Oct. 2007
<http://www.childadvocate.org/1a_arguments.htm>.
6
“Corporal punishment of adolescents by parents: A risk factor in the epidemiology of depression, suicide, alcohol abuse, child abuse, and wife
beating”, Adolescence, vol. 29, pp.543-561. Cited in Youssef, M. S.-E.-D. A. & Kamel, M. I., 1998, “Children experiencing violence I:
Parental use of corporal punishment”, Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 22, no. 10, p.960)
7
Ascham R. The Schoolmaster. London: John Daye, 1571: 1
8
Newell P. A Last Resort? Corporal Punishment in Schools. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972: 9
9
Graziano AM, Hamblen JL, Plante WA. Subabusive violence in child rearing in middle-class American families. Pediatrics 1996; 98:845-848
2
o A 1995 survey by Murray A. Straus stated: “in America 49% of parents admitted to disciplining their children by hitting
the child with an object other than on the buttocks, kicking the child, beating the child, and threatening the child with a gun.” 10
o Sixty percent of parents spank, even though they concede the punishment is ineffective.11
o In schools, discipline should be given through conferences with students to plan acceptable behavior, parent/teacher
conferences about student behavior, use of staff such as school psychologists and counselors, detentions, in-school suspension and
Saturday School. At home, parents can take away privileges, or perhaps use grounding for fixed periods of time.
EVALUATION OF COUNTER 2: ‘I was spanked, and I am okay.’
Many parents where spanked as children and conclude that they grew up completely fine.
o Corporal punishment can be described as a ‘risk factor.’12 Like other risk factors, it does not guarantee harmful side affects
nor affect everyone, but the possibility of harm remains. Just because someone who experienced corporal punishment as a child says
they are ‘okay’ does not make it a suitable form of discipline.
ARGUMENT 3: Children derive a series of misleading messages through repeated penalization.
Corporal punishment is a confusing form of discipline to children, making it harm for them to understand the punishment and
forcing them to come up with a false lesson learnt.
o In Edward Vockell’s book Whatever happened to punishment he states: “Punishment often causes avoidance behaviour.
The child is likely to avoid the person who punished them because they feel if they go near them they will get punished again. In
situations, if a child is afraid to go to school or stay at home for fear of being punished then it is hard for them to develop adaptive
and or social skills.”13
o Edward Vockell also states: “Corporal punishment only teaches what not to do. It does not teach them what to do.”14
o Straus, Sugarman and Giles-Sims record during observation of children’s behaviours: “Punishment often results in a mere
suppression of the undesirable behaviour. While the child realizes they should stop the behaviour which led to being punished, they
also realize they can try it again when the situation cools down or when it is not as likely they will be punished.” 15
o Straus, Sugarman and Giles-Sims also record: “Punishment often results in a sort of ‘behavioural constriction’ of a child.
Children soon discover the safest way to avoid punishment in the future is to avoid doing anything even remotely to do with what
they were doing when they got punished.” 16
o Edward Vockell notes in his book Whatever happened to punishment: “Many educators argue that children approach our
schools with a great deal of eagerness and creativity, and then are punished and told what not to do so often that they lose their
spontaneity and become apathetic.”17
o Psychologist H. Stephen Glenn states,"Corporal punishment is the least effective method of discipline. Punishment
reinforces a failure identity. It reinforces rebellion, resistance, revenge and resentment. And, what people who spank children will
learn is that it teaches more about you than it does about them that the whole goal is to crush the child. It's not dignified, and it's not
respectful."18
EVALUATION OF COUNTER 3: Biblical passages recommend the use corporal punishment as discipline
for children.
Groups such as Fundamentalist Christians or Puritans believe in the bible literal word for word.
o Some Christians believe that the biblical reference to ‘the rod’ refers to a shepherd’s rod that is used to guide sheep, not to
hit them.19
o They are ignoring the New Testament, which states “Do unto others as you shall have them do unto you.” (Luke 6:31)20
Straus, M. A. et al., 1998, “Identification of child maltreatment with the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales: development and psychometric data for
a national sample of American parents”, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 22, pp.249-270. Cited in Krug, E. G. et al., eds, 2002, World report on
violence and health, Geneva: World Health Organisation, p.62
11
Pruett, Kyle. Child Development News. June 2007. 2 Dec. 2007 <http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/devnews.htm>.
12
Straus, Murray A. Corporal Punishment of Adolescents by Parents: A Risk Factor in the Epidemiology of Depression, Suicide, Alcohol Abuse, Child
Abuse, and Wife Beating. 1994. 18 Oct. 2007 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2248/is_n115_v29/ai_16423314>.
13
Vockell, Edward L. Whatever Happened to Punishment. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development Inc, 1977.
14
Vockell, Edward L. Whatever Happened to Punishment. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development Inc, 1977.
15
Straus, M.A., Sugarman, D.B., & Giles-Sims (1997). “Corporal punishment by parents and subsequent antisocial behavior in children”. Archives of
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 155, 761-767.
16
Straus, M.A., Sugarman, D.B., & Giles-Sims (1997). “Corporal punishment by parents and subsequent antisocial behavior in children”. Archives of
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 155, 761-767.
17 17
Vockell, Edward L. Whatever Happened to Punishment. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development Inc, 1977.
10
Robert G. Ingersoll, "Is Corporal Punishment Degrading?” American Review, 1891-DEC”
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/
19
Robinson, B A. Inerrancy: Is the Bible Free of Error? All Points of View. 25 Nov. 2007. 25 Nov. 2007
<http://www.religioustolerance.org/inerrant.htm>.
20
(Luke 6:31)
18