A new book which includes research on over 7,000 US families plus data from 32 different countries, has found that spanking is ultimately detrimental to children.
The book, by Professor Murray Straus of the University of New Hampshire and colleagues, finds that four decades of research is heavily against the use of spanking for children (Straus et al., 2013; The primordial violence: spanking children, psychological development, violence, and crime).
While it may work to correct their behaviour, it doesn't have any advantages over other methods, and also has significant disadvantages.
Professor Straus explained:
According to the research, more than 90% of the studies agree that spanking is not good for children"Research shows that spanking corrects misbehavior. But it also shows that spanking does not work better than other modes of correction, such as time out, explaining, and depriving a child of privileges. Moreover, the research clearly shows that the gains from spanking come at a big cost."
The problem is that spanking children is associated with:
The authors of the book say there is probably no other area of childcare in which the research evidence is so clear.
- Poorer mental development.
- Weaker emotional ties between parents and children.
- Increased risk the child will hit other children
- Increased risk the child will later hit their partner.
Professor Straus added:
"More than 20 nations now prohibit spanking by parents. There is an emerging consensus that this is a fundamental human right for children. The United Nations is asking all nations to prohibit spanking. Never spanking will not only reduce the risk of delinquency and mental health problems, it also will bring to children the right to be free of physical attacks in the name of discipline, just as wives gained that human right a century and a quarter ago."
Did they interview any parents with kids a wee bit 'disruptive', be it due to environment, genetics and the like? Did all of these parents have plenty of time to play 'time out'? We're they educated in this methodology before engaging in parenthood? Isn't that a luxury for most people who succumb to the basics of sexual desire without regard to the consequences, sort of like most life here in America, if not the world?
Spanking, slapping and the like is a form of 'time out' for the stressed out parent who doesn't have the time, energy or money to 'play games' with kids they didn't plan on in the first place. Survival always comes first, and like any form of 'guidance', such acts can turn to the negative and reach child abuse, same with our Western led acts of 'helping' countries around the world deal with 'terrorists' and other friends of empires everywhere. The same pattern of stressing out affects the parents at least as much as the kids, and merely pointing out the fact that a study by researchers has shown the benefits of being rich and well-informed and able to hire others to look after your kids is the way to 'do right'.
And what's up with that "right to be free of physical attacks in the name of discipline"? Anyone that thinks not spanking their children is going to give them such rights deserves all the 'blessings' such 'democratic' governments, and societies based in such practices, gives them, which is none. I would suggest it is actually the reverse, early discipline teaches a child that life isn't 'a bed of roses', it's more like those thorns that protect the bloom, or at least try to.
Maybe a study on how undisciplined children fare in society might be more helpful? Of course, we would have to separate them into classes as well, for not all children, even in the worst of circumstances show any tendency for needing such disciplinary tactics, while others, even in the best of circumstances show this need constantly yet there might not be any 'caring' parent to give them this 'guiding hand' as they grow up. Different strokes for different folks, and isn't it always the same? If you're not doing it 'my' way, it's wrong, and I will create a research report to prove it to you. This is the common practice in most markets based in 'economics' which turns into manipulation of the masses every time, or should be give them a Nobel prize for such Game Theories?