Corporal Punishment in America Essays

Spanking is classified as a corporal punishment, “corporal” means” of the body” ("Is 'Hot"). Spanking usually has an immediate effect on the child to comply (Online Psychology). To define spanking, it is an act of slapping usually on the buttocks. Instead of spanking parents could use another technique called hot saucing, hot sauce is put on the tongue of the child ("Is 'Hot"). Or putting the child in time out is also a suitable punishment without hitting or hurting the child.

Spanking is a type of corporal punishment that is commonly used to discipline children. Without producing any physical injury, the parent will normally strike the child’s bottom with their open hand, belt, or a switch (which is normally a tiny off a tree) for inappropriate behavior.

Firstly, physical punishment breeds aggressive behaviour. Research shows that negative reinforcement tends to have a replicating effect. Adults who were spanked as children are, in turn, more likely to spank their children. Parents set a precedent and children tend to imitate the behaviour, good or ill. For example, a child that is physically

Most parents don’t have patience with their children. Most parents want their children to learn the right thing to do so, they discipline them by spanking their children. Most parents don’t have patience with their children and it is hard to control the things you say or do at the moment in time.

Discipline should not produce fear or shame, rather growth and maturity. Firm parents who know when to be flexible and who openly display warmth and affection to their children create a fertile environment for their children and can solve many behavioral problems before they

Despite there being support for some of the short and long-term benefits of corporal punishment, there is plenty of opposition to corporal punishment for a variety of reasons. Starting as early as the 1960s, corporal punishment has been said to be “unacceptably degrading punishment” (Lenta 2012: 692), “harsh discipline” (Mayer and Blome, 2013: 145) and psychologically distressing (McLloyd et. al 2007:166).

Implementing physical punishment is a topic that many people and even professionals seem to have some disagreement on it. Some believe that spanking should be used to discipline children, but others believe that spanking brings more damage than results. In this paper I will define what physical punishment is and where I stand in regards of this matter. In addition, I will explain the advice I would give to a parent who asks if spanking is a correct way of disciplining their children.

Should the use of corporal punishment to discipline children be considered child abuse? Annotated Bibliography

Spanking, also referred to as corporal punishment, is defined as: an act of slapping, especially on the buttocks as a punishment for children. According to Alvin Poussaint, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, at Harvard Medical School, “Researchers have found that children who are spanked show higher rates of aggression and delinquency in childhood than those who were not spanked. As adults, they are more prone to depression, feelings of alienation, use of violence toward a spouse, and lower economic and professional achievement. None of this is what we want for our children” (Poussaint 17). Corporal punishment in U.S. homes is lawful in all 50 states, and 19 of those states still allow spanking in schools, which causes a multitude of issues. In likeness, many other countries have made spanking illegal because it engenders negative physical, emotional, and cognitive effects on children; there are many effective and harmless alternatives to corporal punishment.

Hitting children teaches them to hit. Research is available to support a link between corporal punishment in childhood and aggressive behavior in teenage and adult years. (www.naturalchild.org)

Spanking is considered a form of corporal punishment, and depending on what one’s view, belief or stance on corporal punishment weighs heavily in determining their views and beliefs on how to discipline kids. Corporal punishment is the striking of a child with an open hand, typically on the buttocks with the sole intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury. Spanking is used to modify misconduct and misbehavior, and generally is done by using hands. When either one is executed in an excessive manner and uses harmful items and becomes excessive is then quite frankly seen, viewed and deemed as child abuse.

Corporal punishment is using physical pain in response to behavior that has been deemed inappropriate. The AAP defines spanking as “striking a child with an open hand on the buttocks or extremities with the intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury” (Jones

The term corporal punishment means the intentional infliction of pain on the body for purposes of punishment. "Spanking can be defined as the use of physical force aimed at causing children to experience pain but not injury, for the purposes of correction and control of youthful behavior"(http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=32539). Spanking is a controversial topic and should not be taken lightly.

Straus (2001) defined corporal punishment as "an act carried out with the intention of causing a child to experience physical pain, but not injury, for purposes of correction or control" (as cited in Straus & Paschall, 2009, p.459). Two of the most prominent and widespread kinds of corporal punishment include slapping and spanking (Straus & Paschall, 2009, p. 459-460). This paper will analyze the laws regarding corporal punishment in many countries, the developmental theories such as the behavioral cognitive, and sociocultural in the context of corporal punishment as well as the harmful effects of corporal punishment on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development of children in early childhood which ranges from two to six years of age.

Our culture sanctions the use of corporal or physical punishment as a way for parents to discipline their children. Just a few weeks ago Marvin Munyon, president of the Family Resource Forum based in Madison, Wisconsin, was at the Eau Claire Gospel Center to talk about and demonstrate the proper way to spank children. Mr. Munyon would have us believe that discipline other than spanking is ineffective (Emerson 1B, 3B). From my experience as a child and a parent I have found the opposite to be true. If we take a look at what discipline is and the reasons parents use physical punishment, we can then start to understand that there are more effective ways to discipline children.