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CIVIL AND MISDEMEANORS

The advantages of corporal punishment.

By Alexa Josphine

December 17, 2018

Reviewed by Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA

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advantages of corporal punishment essay

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Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of physical pain such as flogging, slapping, spanking and paddling to punish wrongdoing. It can take the form of parental, school or judicial corporal punishment. Although opposition to it is strong, corporal punishment still has some strong arguments for it. It is more common in developing countries; however, corporal punishment is still legal in schools in 19 U.S. states. One federal analysis found that a student is disciplined by corporal punishment every 30 seconds.

Relatively Immediate Results

Compared to alternative methods of retribution such as expulsion, suspension, grounding or community service , corporal punishment has immediate effects. It is a short-term method of punishment that can be quickly administered in the home, school or in prison. For example, a student may stop talking and disrupting a class for a while if the teacher spanks him. The teacher can then go back to teaching without taking too much time managing a student’s behavior.

Strong Deterrent

Physical pain, embarrassment and fear are strong deterrents for the person who receives corporal punishment and for those who witness it. People will associate a certain behavior with a certain consequence such as spanking, paddling or flogging. This encourages avoidance of behaviors that elicit corporal punishment. Children being physically punished will also feel deterred from engaging in certain behaviors or activities that will attract physical punishment.

Cost Effective

Compared to alternative methods of punishment and discipline, corporal punishment can cost less. In the case of parental and school corporal punishment, only a ruler, a paddle or a belt are required. Schools with limited finances and resources use corporal punishment as a more cost-effective method of discipline. In judicial corporal punishment an alternative method would be rehabilitation or community service programs, which can be costly to organize and maintain.

Corporal Punishment in the U.S.

States that allow corporal punishment in schools are mostly concentrated in the South. It is most prevalent in Texas, according to The Washington Post. Parental permission is typically required. These states allow corporal punishment: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.

  • Washington Post: 19 States Still Allow Corporal Punishment in School

Alexa Josphine began her writing career in 2005. Her work has appeared in the monthly publication "DRUM" magazine, among other publications. Josphine is pursuing her master's degree in journalism from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya.

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18 Corporal Punishment Pros and Cons

Although 31 states have currently banned the practice of corporal punishment, there are 19 states which permit it to be used in schools. It is defined as a physical punishment which involves hitting someone. Most schools will practice corporal punishment through the use of paddling or a hand in the form of spanking.

There are extreme instances of corporal punishment practiced in schools that use tasers, chemical sprays, and leather straps.

Even though 94% of parents with children under four years of age report that they have spent their child at least once with in the past year, and another 76% of men say that a child sometimes needs to be spanked, corporal punishment in schools remains a controversial subject.

Is it OK to hit a child as a form of discipline? What alternative forms of punishment for negative behaviors be more appropriate? These are the pros and cons of corporal punishment to review.

List of the Pros of Corporal Punishment

1. It can be useful when used in moderation. Most of the concerns which are associated with the use of corporal punishment come from using it excessively. The occasional use of physical punishment because of serious behavioral issues can’t be appropriate for some children when other disciplinary actions have not yelled at results. Taking away toys, or assigning a timeout spot, are not always valid with rambunctious children.

Some kids prefer to push the limits of the adults around them to understand what structures are appropriate. These are the children who typically respond in severe circumstances to a physical consequence that is appropriate for the behaviors they have chosen.

2. It sets clear boundaries that motivate children to behave at home or in school. Kids make better decisions about their actions and behaviors when they understand what the penalties for misbehaving happen to be. This process allows each child to exercise and enhanced level of self-control. Advantages like this occur when the child understands that there are specific boundaries which cannot be crossed in certain circumstances.

The effect of corporal punishment can prevent children from continuing on with her negative choices that may want to allow them to accept criminal behavior that is something which is societally acceptable.

3. It tends to be a choice that students prefer. Students were given a choice between detention, suspension, or corporal punishment will often choose the latter. That is because it is a swift punishment which doesn’t cause older kids to miss classes, activities, or valuable time on the playground. Disadvantage allows the child education to remain on interrupted, reducing the need for make-up work because they are missing class instructions.

4. It follows very precise rules when implemented. Although some school districts do not offer guidance to their teachers or administrators regarding the application of corporal punishment, most have rules which must be followed when this disciplinary action is implemented. Louisiana’s Central Parish requires that three swats what’s the panel that is about 20 inches long and 4 inches wide is the appropriate punishment.

5. It creates a shock factor for children. Kids don’t always realize that they’re about to rush into a dangerous situation. The behaviors that they display at school or at home may not seem like a poor decision to them. Corporal punishment, in whatever form it is applied, creates a shocking circumstance for the child which helps them to remember that their choices could create harm in some way.

Although spanking may not change short-term behaviors, it does create a message which can ring out loud and clear to children who are exploring boundaries. The circumstances around the consequence create a lasting memory which sticks with them for months or years afterward.

6. It requires parents for professionals to follow up after the consequence is administered. One of the reasons why corporal punishment, what usually takes the form of spanking, feels like an abusive situation it’s because the physical consequences are only given. Parents, teachers, and administrators must follow up with each child after a consequence to ensure that they understand the reasons why it was given. This outcome only occurs when the consequence is provided in an environment which is loving and calm.

Most of the disadvantages that come with the use of corporal punishment are directly associated with its use when a parent or teacher are frustrated in the heat of the moment. Spanking, or any other form of physical consequences, should never be handed out when the person doing it feels anger toward the child.

7. It can be a way to teach respect for some children. The use of corporal punishment instills a level of respect in kids who struggle to interact with authority figures. It establishes a boundary between who is in charge, and what the rules happen to be. This process can then help to lay the groundwork for some children to understand the moments where they are asked to listen compared to the moments when they are allowed to explore personal choices with more freedom.

8. Every method of discipline is ineffective at some point. When you are trying to discipline a two-year-old, there comes a time at that age when no disciplinary method really works well. Any technique that is repeated enough times, including spanking and corporal punishment, will eventually get through to the child.

Although there can be some long-term consequences for children when this method of discipline is not applied in a loving environment, the benefits of using yet often outweigh the potential outcomes which would occur if no form of discipline was used at all.

List of the Cons of Corporal Punishment

1. Corporal punishment inflicts long-term harm both physically and mentally on children. Children who receive physical punishment for their problematic behaviors are more likely to respond with aggression and have problems with attention compared to students who receive other forms of consequences. Studies have shown that frequent use of corporal punishment increases the risks of substance abuse, depression, stress, and anxiety for children of all ages. Kids who experience this type of discipline are also more likely to relate to various forms of violence involving power, which means they are more likely than the general population to become abusive later in life or display bullying behaviors.

2. Corporal punishment creates unsafe environments. Whether physical punishments are used at home or in school, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that such consequences contribute to violent and disruptive behaviors in children. Kids to experience corporal punishment are more likely to hit other people as a method of circumstance to get their way. This behavior increases the risk of physical abuse within the classroom, at home, and even in public situations. The use of corporal punishment will signal to a child that this is the best way to settle and interpersonal conflict, which is why they turn to this behavior when they need something.

3. Corporal punishment harms the educational process for children. Research into corporal punishment has shown that it has negative of fax, which is why it has been banned in military training and prisons in the United States. Even animals are protected from this type of punishment in all 50 states. When it occurs in a school, the students who are exposed to physical punishment as early as kindergarten are more likely to have lower vocabulary scores by the time they reach fourth grade. They also have lower fifth-grade math scores.

The schools in states were corporal punishment is permitted perform worse on the national academic assessment each year compared to the states that prohibit corporal punishment.

4. It is a practice which is banned by a majority of the developed world. There are 54 countries which banned corporal punishment in every circumstance, including as a consequence option for parents at home. Other countries ban corporal punishment in most circumstances. There are only nine countries in the world which do not have any restrictions on the use of corporal punishment in any circumstance. Those nations are Guiana, Botswana, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, and Tanzania.

The response of the United States to the use of corporal punishment involves using it as a traditional means of disciplinary action instead of having a logical reason for it. As Daryl Scoggin, the superintendent of the school district and Tate County, Mississippi, told EdWeek.org, “it’s kind of like, I had it done to me, and so I knew what I needed to do. I guess it’s more that you learn by watching. We don’t practice on dummies or anything like that.”

5. There is the potential that someone could administer it incorrectly. The most effective use of corporal punishment involves children who are in the preschool age range which have committed willful disobedience. It should never be used when a young child decides to commit a small act of defiance. Infants should never receive a physical consequence because they do not have the capability to understand the difference between a right or wrong decision. Older children with strong communication abilities might experience a better outcome if they were given a chance to speak about their behaviors in a safe environment.

If corporal punishment is administered incorrectly, the likely outcome is that the child will feel guilt or shame that is not associated with the behaviors that someone is trying to correct. The risks of resorting to this consequence in a moment of anger are what limit its overall effectiveness.

6. It creates an environment of fear for the child. Although there are advantages in the creation of a shock factor when trying to teach a child a lesson, there is a difference between teaching through fear and teaching through love and concern. Far too often, kids see the administration of a physical consequence as a reason to fear the person who is giving it out. That expression of emotion doesn’t create a respectful relationship between the child and the other party involved. It creates compliance due to fear of another physical consequence instead.

This process creates a circumstance where the child may still not understand the difference between right and wrong. Their choices become based on deciding whether or not they want to receive the corporal punishment.

7. There is a fine line between discipline and abuse with corporal punishment. There were 41 children placed into foster care by state officials in Georgia in 2001 because of allegations that the congregation of a church we’re beating these kids at the urging of their pastor. When interviewed about their behaviors, the members of the church said that they whipped the kids because it was a punishment for their incorrect choices. The parents involved refused an offer by the state to have their kids return and exchange for agreeing not to use corporal punishment in that way.

8. It communicates a set of values that one may not want their children to have. The use of corporal punishment, even though it becomes a disciplinary tool, is a way to communicate specific values to a child. As Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld, co-author of a book about hyperparenting, tells WebMD: “our children almost invariably pick up our values as we live them. So, if we demonstrate to our kids that hitting is an appropriate way to deal with this pleasure, we shouldn’t be surprised when they do the same thing.”

9. It has the same failure rate as other forms of discipline. Dr. Murray A. Strauss, co-Director of the Family Research Laboratory, says that there is one reason why spanking and other forms of corporal punishment feel like an effective approach. He says that spanking offers the same immediate failure rate as other disciplinary measures that parents try. The reason why it seems like the right course of action to take for consequences is that it is there a method of last resort.

10. It creates a risk of injury to the child. The size difference between an adult and a child creates the risk of injury to kids who receive corporal punishment. That is one of the many reasons why parents to use physical punishment in the past expressed regret for their decisions today. Those who do keep using it tend to have received it themselves when they were growing up. This process creates a cycle of behavior that makes more likely for some children to experience injuries because of their discipline that could be worse than the natural outcome of a poor decision.

These pros and cons of corporal punishment are not intended to serve as a moral guideline for those who preferred to use it or for those who avoid it. There are tangible consequences which can last for a lifetime when children are exposed to corporal punishment over a long time. This approach may also teach some children specific boundaries of safety, like remembering to look both ways before crossing the street, that can protect them from harm as they grow up. Each family, and each school district, must make decisions that reflect what will best serve the needs of their children.

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Physical punishment and child outcomes: a narrative review of prospective studies

Anja heilmann.

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK

Anita Mehay

Richard g watt, yvonne kelly, joan e durrant.

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Jillian van Turnhout

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Faculty of Paediatrics, Dublin, Ireland

Elizabeth T Gershoff

Population Research Center and Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

Contributors

Associated Data

Physical punishment is increasingly viewed as a form of violence that harms children. This narrative review summarises the findings of 69 prospective longitudinal studies to inform practitioners and policy makers about physical punishment’s outcomes. Our review identified seven key themes. First, physical punishment consistently predicts increases in child behaviour problems over time. Second, physical punishment is not associated with positive outcomes over time. Third, physical punishment increases the risk of involvement with child protective services. Fourth, the only evidence of children eliciting physical punishment is for externalising behaviour. Fifth, physical punishment predicts worsening behaviour over time in quasi-experimental studies. Sixth, associations between physical punishment and detrimental child outcomes are robust across child and parent characteristics. Finally, there is some evidence of a dose–response relationship. The consistency of these findings indicates that physical punishment is harmful to children and that policy remedies are warranted.

Introduction

The WHO–UNICEF- Lancet Commission 1 on children has highlighted social, economic, commercial, and environmental threats to child health and has called for urgent government action to ensure that children grow up in safe and healthy environments. Yet the home environments of most children worldwide are not safe because they include physical punishment. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has definitively stated that physical punishment is a form of violence that violates children’s rights to protection, dignity, and physical security. 2 The UN General Assembly has included the protection of children from all forms of violence as Sustainable Development Goal 16.2. 3 Such human rights arguments, along with an aligned body of research indicating that physical punishment is harmful to children, 4 – 6 have led to a growing consensus among health professionals that physical punishment of children is detrimental and ineffective, 7 – 9 and have led 62 countries to prohibit physical punishment of children in all settings and a further 27 countries to commit to doing so. 10

Most of the world’s children live in countries where physical punishment is allowed by law; as a result, 63% of children aged 2–4 years—250 million children—are regularly subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers. 11 The continued prevalence of physical punishment suggests that parents are not receiving, or not believing, the message that it is both ineffective and potentially harmful to their children’s health and development. This lack of knowledge could be because the research to date is summarised in hundreds of specialist research studies or in detailed meta-analyses 5 , 12 – 14 that are not easily accessible to health professionals whom parents consult for advice about discipline. 15 Furthermore, most countries have not prohibited physical punishment in homes or schools, or both. Policy makers might not be aware of the strength of the research evidence against physical punishment or of the likelihood that legislating against physical punishment would prevent harm to children.

The purpose of this narrative review is thus to summarise the past two decades of research on physical punishment in a format that is accessible to policy makers, community leaders, and practitioners. Although psychological punishments such as yelling, humiliating, or shaming children are also prevalent around the world 11 and are harmful to children, 16 we focused our review on physical punishment in response to growing interest around the world in legislating against its use.

Three strategic decisions guided our review. First, we began our review with studies published in 2002, the year that the first comprehensive meta-analysis of research into physical punishment was published. 12 Second, we included only studies that examined physical punishment specifically and excluded studies of severe assaults against children. Third, we restricted our review to longitudinal studies that followed up children prospectively and took initial levels of the outcome into account, thereby meeting the minimum criterion for causality that physical punishment must precede the measured outcome in time and addressing concerns regarding the possibility of reverse causality. 17

The database searches identified 3855 unduplicated records, of which 2198 were excluded after initial title screening. An additional five studies were identified through Web of Science search alerts and expert communication. After two independent reviewers assessed 1303 abstracts and 359 full texts, they identified 68 articles describing 69 studies (one article reported on two samples) that met the inclusion criteria. These were retained for review ( figure ).

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Study selection

The field is heavily dominated by research from the USA (60 articles), including a large number of studies that used the same datasets—eg, 23 studies used the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), and eight used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). The remaining eight studies came from Canada, China, Colombia, Greece, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK. No non-English studies met the inclusion criteria. Characteristics of included studies are provided in the appendix pp 2–11.

We describe outcome measures using the terminology adopted by authors of the original research. We grouped studies into nine broad categories: externalising behaviours (behavioural difficulties that manifest outwardly and refer to acts towards the external environment that violate social norms or are harmful to others, or both), 18 , 19 internalising behaviours (behaviours that are directed inwards, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, withdrawal, fearfulness, and somatic complaints), 18 , 19 total behaviour difficulties (composite measures of both externalising and internalising), prosocial behaviours, inattention or symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cognitive abilities, interpersonal relationships, stress reactivity, and involvement with child protective services (CPS).

The table presents an overview of the included studies. Many studies examined more than one outcome, such that 98 effect sizes were presented across the studies. Additionally, some outcomes were examined multiple times with the same dataset; to ensure the independence of the findings within each outcome category, each dataset was counted only once per outcome. When multiple studies from the same dataset had discrepant findings, the majority finding was coded. For example, of the three studies that used data from the FFCWS to examine cognitive abilities, one found a detrimental effect and two found no significant association; the FFCWS was counted only once in the table in the row for cognitive abilities as having no association. With each independent dataset counted once only per outcome, the total number of effect sizes was 64.

Physical punishment was significantly (p<0.05) associated with worse outcomes over time in 38 independent samples (59%). No significant associations were found in 15 independent samples (23%). None of the studies reported main effects of beneficial child outcomes associated with physical punishment. Mixed findings across studies using the same dataset were found for 11 independent samples (17%); however, it is important to note that associations between physical punishment and beneficial outcomes were not found as main effects for any study and were only found in four subgroups across all of the studies examined ( appendix p 2).

Externalising behaviours

Externalising behaviours were by far the most studied outcomes. 38 of 55 (69%) studies used advanced statistical methods, including structural equation models, fixed effects models, growth curve models, and propensity score matching. Almost all adjusted for a wide range of covariates. Some studies examined the broad category of externalising behaviours whereas others examined subcategories, such as aggression.

Externalising behaviour, typically measured with standardised questionnaires such as the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, 34 was the outcome in 27 studies from 19 independent samples with follow-up periods of up to 12 years. These included five studies using FFCWS data, 35 – 39 two using the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999 (ECLS-K), 40 , 41 and three using data from the US Child Development Project. 42 – 44 Apart from one Chinese, 20 one Greek, 22 and one Turkish 45 study, all research into externalising behaviour was from the USA.

In 13 of the 19 independent samples, physical punishment was associated with increases in externalising behaviour over time. 27 , 35 – 43 , 45 – 53 In three independent samples, no associations were identified. 44 , 54 – 56 Mixed findings were reported in another three independent samples. 20 – 22

Children’s aggressive behaviour was assessed in 20 studies and six independent samples. Most were undertaken in early childhood. In five of the six samples, physical punishment predicted increases in aggressive behaviour over time. 15 studies used FFCWS data with consistent findings of detrimental effects of physical punishment across different analytical methods and age groups. 57 – 71 Associations with increases in aggressive behaviours were observed in four of the remaining five independent samples, including in Canada, 72 Switzerland, 73 and the USA. 30 , 74 Only one study found no association between physical punishment and aggressive behaviour. 75

Antisocial behaviour and conduct problems were assessed in eight studies from five independent samples. Follow-up periods ranged from 2 to 12 years. Four studies analysed NLSY data, with conflicting results: physical punishment predicted increases in antisocial behaviour in two studies, 23 , 24 whereas the other two studies found no associations. 25 , 26 The remaining four studies on independent samples found associations between physical punishment and increases in antisocial behaviour, 76 conduct problems, 72 , 77 and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms. 78

Internalising behaviours

Internalising behaviour was the outcome in 15 studies from ten independent samples. Apart from one study that measured depressive symptoms, 77 all studies reported on an overall measure of internalising behaviour symptoms. Six studies analysed data from the FFCWS. 38 , 39 , 59 , 64 , 66 , 67 Most studies were undertaken in early childhood, although some followed up children into early adolescence. Overall, the findings were mixed. Physical punishment predicted increases in internalising behaviour over time in five of the ten independent samples, including all six studies using FFCWS data. 38 , 39 , 52 , 53 , 59 , 64 , 66 , 67 , 76 , 77 Three independent studies found no associations. 47 , 54 , 55 One study reported mixed findings from subgroup analyses, 22 and another reported beneficial associations from age 3 years to 5 years but detrimental associations for physical punishment at age 5 years predicting internalising outcomes in middle childhood (age 9 years). 27

Total behaviour problems

Six studies from five independent samples examined total behaviour problems, a combination of internalising and externalising behaviours. 28 , 29 , 31 , 79 – 81 All were undertaken with young children, with a baseline age of 2–4 years and follow-up periods of 2–6 years. Physical punishment was related to increased behaviour problems over time in four independent samples. 31 , 79 , 80 , 81 The fifth sample was the NLSY; of the two studies using this dataset, one found that physical punishment predicted increased behaviour problems over time 28 and the other reported mixed findings. 29

Prosocial behaviour or social competence

None of the five included studies on prosocial behaviour or social competence found any evidence that physical punishment affected these outcomes. 30 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 72

Inattention and ADHD

Physical punishment was unrelated to later inattention in a sample from the US Head Start Impact study. 30 However, data from the ECLS-K suggested that physical punishment at 5 years of age increased the risk of both moderate and severe symptoms of ADHD and the risk of severe symptoms of ADHD-conduct disorder 8 years later. 82

Cognitive abilities

Cognitive abilities were assessed in eight studies using data from six independent samples. 30 – 32 , 36 , 37 , 67 , 83 , 84 Outcomes included children’s vocabulary, literacy, reading and mathematics skills, school readiness, school engagement, and approaches to learning. Findings were highly heterogeneous. Two independent studies showed that physical punishment was associated with poorer cognitive abilities in early childhood. 83 , 84 Of three analyses of FFCWS data that used the same vocabulary test but at different ages and with different follow-up periods, only one found an association between physical punishment and lower vocabulary scores, 36 whereas the other two studies did not. 37 , 67 Three studies reported mixed results with detrimental effects for some but not all cognitive outcomes. 30 – 32 One study reported associations with better cognitive performance but weaker school engagement in middle childhood and adolescence. 32

Interpersonal relationships

Cross-lagged path models showed reciprocal associations between physical punishment and the parent–child relationship: physical punishment at 36 months was associated with lower quality of observed parent–child interaction 1·5 years later, and better interaction quality at 36 months was associated with less physical punishment over time. 51

Peer isolation among young children (such as having nobody to talk to at school) was assessed in a study using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being and was unrelated to physical punishment. 32

Data from an evaluation of a US dating violence prevention programme found mixed results, with no overall associations between child-reported physical punishment at age 14 years and self-reported initiation of dating violence assessed 7 and 19 months later for the subsample of single mothers. However, the study found a detrimental association for physical punishment by married mothers and a non-significant association between physical punishment by married fathers and dating violence. 33

Stress reactivity

One small US study measured physical punishment at 1 year of age and children’s cortisol production during a laboratory visit between ages 1 and 2 years, after exposure to a stressful situation (introducing a stranger and separating the child from the mother). 85 A higher frequency of physical punishment at 1 year of age predicted increased cortisol levels post separation after controlling for baseline cortisol, indicating a heightened stress response. 85

Involvement with CPS

When a family reports that they are involved with CPS, such involvement is typically an indication of suspected child maltreatment. Three US studies assessed associations between physical punishment in early childhood and subsequent involvement with CPS for suspected child abuse or neglect. We did not require that a study controlled for previous maltreatment or involvement with CPS because we would not expect reciprocal associations between physical punishment and CPS involvement. Additionally, we felt that any future maltreatment was of concern, regardless of whether it had happened in the past. In fact, one of the studies did control for previous CPS involvement, 86 whereas two studies using data from the FFCWS did not. 87 , 88 In both samples, physical punishment increased the risk of subsequent CPS involvement 87 , 88 and of CPS-reported neglect after controlling for previous CPS involvement. 86

Thematic overview

We identified seven themes from our review of the longitudinal research into physical punishment and change in children’s outcomes over time.

Theme 1: physical punishment consistently predicts child behaviour problems over time

Physical punishment is commonly believed to be an effective method to improve child behaviour. However, the overwhelming conclusion from the studies that we examined is that physical punishment predicts an increase in behaviour problems over time. This finding is consistent with three meta-analyses that have found parents’ use of physical punishment to be associated with increased child behaviour problems, including aggression. 5 , 12 , 14 Therefore, physical punishment is ineffective in achieving parents’ goal of improving child behaviour and instead appears to have the opposite effect of increasing unwanted behaviours.

Theme 2: physical punishment is not associated with positive outcomes over time

Few studies of outcomes other than behaviour problems met our strict criteria in that they examined potential outcomes of physical punishment prospectively while accounting for initial levels of the child outcome. The results were largely mixed between findings of detriments and findings of no association; across these studies, there was no evidence of associations with positive outcomes related to children’s attention, 30 , 82 cognitive abilities, 30 – 32 , 36 , 37 , 67 , 83 , 84 relationships with others, 32 , 33 , 51 or stress reactivity. 85 Physical punishment also does not predict improvements in children’s prosocial behavior or social competence over time. 30 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 72

Theme 3: physical punishment increases the risk of child maltreatment

Three studies from two independent datasets, one of which took into account previous involvement with CPS, 86 – 88 found that parents who used physical punishment were at heightened risk of perpetrating maltreatment that would trigger CPS involvement. This finding is consistent with previous meta-analyses that have found physical punishment to be significantly associated with higher risk of maltreatment, 5 , 12 and with the finding from a study of Canadian CPS records, not included in our narrative review, that 75% of cases of substantiated incidents of physical abuse occur in the context of punishment. 89 Taken together, these findings indicate that physical punishment is linked with an increased risk of maltreatment. They also call into question the arbitrary distinction between acceptable and non-acceptable violence towards children.

Theme 4: the only evidence of children’s behaviour eliciting physical punishment is for externalising behaviour

A criticism of past research into physical punishment is that cross-sectional studies cannot determine whether physical punishment causes behaviour problems, in part because observed correlations could reflect reverse causality—namely, children’s behaviour problems eliciting physical punishment. We addressed this concern by including in our review only prospective longitudinal studies that included initial levels of a child’s behaviour; doing so allows us to be certain that we are examining whether physical punishment predicts a change in children’s behaviour over and above their initial behaviour.

In addition, 15 studies in our review used a cross-lagged panel design, which simultaneously models both the longitudinal association between physical punishment and child behaviour as well as the association between initial child behaviour and parents’ use of physical punishment at a subsequent wave. In the six studies with independent samples, 27 , 40 , 45 , 46 , 51 , 77 and the nine studies using data from the FFCWS, 35 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 62 , 63 , 67 , 70 , 71 physical punishment consistently predicted worsening externalising behaviour problems over time, even after accounting for the tendency of externalising behaviour to elicit physical punishment.

In contrast, studies that used cross-lagged models to examine associations between physical punishment and internalising behaviour found no evidence that internalising elicited more physical punishment over time. 59 , 67 Similarly, no reciprocal effects were found for children’s social competence 57 or for children’s vocabulary scores. 67 The lack of evidence of a child elicitation effect for these outcomes indicates there is little evidence of potential reverse causation for outcomes other than externalising behaviour problems.

Theme 5: physical punishment is linked with worsening behaviour over time in studies using quasi-experimental methods

The primary criticism of empirical studies of physical punishment is that they are largely non-experimental, given that random assignment of children to a physical punishment condition would be unethical, and thus cannot rule out other potential explanatory factors. 41 However, several of the studies in our review used methodological designs that help to rule out other potential explanations and thereby increase our confidence that the findings are consistent with a causal conclusion.

Three studies created quasi-experimental comparisons through propensity score matching (PSM), which matches children on a range of individual and family background characteristics so that the only observed difference between them is whether they experienced physical punishment. Using PSM with data from the US ECLSK study (12 112 families), one study found that children who were physically punished increased their externalising behaviour from age 5–8 years significantly more than did those who had not been physically punished. 41 A second study from Japan (29 182 families) used PSM to determine that children who were physically punished exhibited more behaviour problems over time than did their peers who were not. 80 The third study, based in Colombia (1167 families), found that young children who were physically punished gained fewer cognitive skills than did those who were not physically punished. 83 The fact that these studies using rigorous statistical methods with large samples from three different countries all found that physical punishment predicted poorer outcomes over time lends considerable credence to the conclusion that physical punishment is harmful to children’s development.

A second method of ruling out alternative explanations is fixed effects regression, which uses difference scores for both predictor and outcome to control for time invariant unobserved characteristics that could account for associations between physical punishment and child outcomes. Two studies in our review used this method. One used data from the NLSY to find that increases in physical punishment predicted increases in children’s externalising behaviours. 47 The other used fixed effects regressions with data from the FFCWS and found that physical punishment predicted increases in child aggressive behaviour. 65

Finally, two studies in our review used data from randomised controlled trials of interventions that reduced physical punishment; although the physical punishment was not randomly assigned, the experimentally induced reductions in physical punishment predicted improvements in children’s problem behaviours over time. 30 , 48

Theme 6: the associations of physical punishment with increases in detrimental child outcomes are robust across child and parent characteristics

Many of the studies in our review considered whether the associations between physical punishment and child outcomes might vary by characteristics of the child or parent. We highlight the findings for the most commonly considered modifiers: sex of the child, race or ethnicity, and parenting style.

With regard to the sex of the child, studies with four independent samples in the USA found no modification of the link between physical punishment and increased behaviour problems. 35 , 37 , 42 , 74 Two US studies found a stronger association with problem behaviours for boys than girls, 24 , 69 whereas a Chinese study reported an association with externalising behaviours for girls but not boys. 20 A study in Canada found no modification by child sex for the outcome of child aggression or conduct problems, but did find that physical punishment was linked with improved prosocial behaviour, but only for girls. 72 In a national study in Greece, physical punishment predicted more externalising behaviours for boys but fewer externalising or internalising behaviours for girls. 22 Most of these studies thus found physical punishment to be linked with increased problem behaviour for both boys and girls, with differences only in the strength of the association.

Previous research has argued that the effects of physical punishment might vary on the basis of the acceptance of physical punishment by the family’s culture, an argument referred to as cultural normativeness theory. 90 Several of the studies we reviewed accordingly tested for effect modification by a family’s race or ethnicity. However, no modification of the link to increased externalising behaviour was found in the ECLSK, 40 , 82 the FFCWS, 35 , 70 or five other independent samples. 27 , 42 , 52 , 56 , 77 Findings with the NLSY for child behaviour problems were mixed, with some finding modification by race or ethnicity 26 , 29 but others finding no modification. 23 , 24 , 28

Another study with data from the NLSY found no modification by race or ethnicity for achievement in mathematics or reading ability. 84 Three studies did find modification, but not in the direction predicted by cultural normativeness theory. 27 , 33 , 50 Overall, these US-based studies provided no support for the notion that the associations of physical punishment with child outcomes are modified by the race or ethnicity of the child.

Some have argued that any negative effects of physical punishment are buffered when parents have an overall positive parenting style. One study using data from the NLSY did find evidence of a buffering effect of responsiveness for the link between physical punishment and behaviour problems, 28 but another study that used data from NLSY found neither responsiveness nor cognitive stimulation buffered the links between physical punishment and worse achievement in reading ability and mathematics. 84 Three other studies found that parental warmth did not buffer the effect of physical punishment on an increase in behaviour problems. 60 , 74 , 77 There is thus little evidence that parenting style modifies the associations between physical punishment and detrimental child outcomes.

Theme 7: physical punishment shows a dose–response relationship with some child outcomes

Seven studies measured the relationship between frequency of physical punishment and level of the outcome variable. Five of these studies found evidence of a dose–response effect—ie, the magnitude of the effect varied with the frequency of the punishment. Three studies using data from the FFCWS found that the association with child aggression became stronger as the frequency of physical punishment increased. 37 , 61 , 64 Two studies used data from the NLSY, one of which did not find a dose–response effect for antisocial behaviour (both one instance and two or more instances of physical punishment predicted antisocial behaviour). 23 The other study found that the association with lower achievement in mathematics and reading ability became stronger as the frequency of physical punishment increased. 84 Such findings of dose–response associations between physical punishment and increases in detrimental child outcomes over time are indicative of a causal relationship as per Hill’s criteria for establishing causality. 17 , 91

Limitations

The purpose of this narrative review was to summarise and interpret the extant research on physical punishment from prospective studies. Because it is not a meta-analysis or systematic review, this narrative review does not take into account the number of participants in a study or the magnitude of effect sizes. The vast majority of studies that met our selection criteria were undertaken in the USA; only eight studies were from other countries (one each from Canada, 72 China, 20 Colombia, 83 Greece, 22 Japan, 80 Switzerland, 73 Turkey, 45 and the UK 81 ). More research is needed in countries outside the USA, and in low-income and middle-income countries in particular.

Implications for policy

The evidence is consistent and robust: physical punishment does not predict improvements in child behaviour and instead predicts deterioration in child behaviour and increased risk for maltreatment. There is thus no empirical reason for parents to continue to use physical punishment. Moreover, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has explicitly stated that physical punishment is a violation of a child’s right to protection and should be prohibited. 2

So far, 62 of the world’s countries have prohibited all physical punishment of children, thereby ensuring that their laws protect children and adults equally. These prohibitions are found throughout the world: ten in Africa, ten in Central and South America, six in Asia-Pacific, 35 in Europe, and one in the Middle East. 10 They are found across the world’s cultures, faiths, levels of economic development, political leanings, and legal systems. Two constituent countries of the UK, Scotland and Wales, also passed laws prohibiting all physical punishment of children in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Evidence is growing that such laws are associated with rapid and dramatic changes in parents’ attitudes and behaviour, reducing both approval and prevalence of physical punishment of children. 92 Sweden, which prohibited all physical punishment of children in 1979, provides an example of how a prohibition can lead to steady declines in physical punishment over time. In a study of three cohorts of young to middle-aged adults, the proportion of participants who reported being slapped during childhood decreased from 83% in 1958, to 51% in 1981, and then to 27% in 2011—a two-thirds reduction over 53 years. 93 Although public education can help to increase knowledge and shift attitudes, these efforts are slowed and undermined when the law contradicts them. A study of five European countries found that the greatest changes in attitudes about and use of physical punishment occur when public education and law are consistent. 94 , 95

There is no evidence that laws giving children full protection create an influx of caregivers into the justice system. 5 years of police monitoring following the implementation of New Zealand’s prohibition found that prosecution was limited to severe acts (eg, kicking, holding by the neck, causing injuries) and none led to prison sentences. After passage of the legal prohibition on physical punishment, police worked more closely with the child protection authority, diverting cases from the justice system to agencies that could respond supportively. 96 Indeed, in almost all countries with prohibitions, these laws serve an educational rather than punitive function, aiming to increase awareness, shift attitudes, and clarify the responsibilities of parents in their caregiving role. 92

In addition to national legal bans, communities and institutions can assist in preventing and reducing physical punishment. One example is No Hit Zones, which have been successfully introduced in many locations in the USA, particularly hospitals. No Hit Zones prohibit the hitting of children in those settings and are effective in increasing both hospital staff’s willingness to intervene in situations of parent–child hitting and parents’ acceptance of staff advice to avoid physical punishment. 97 No Hit Zones are low-cost interventions that can be instituted widely across communities and in a variety of settings (eg, schools, libraries, supermarkets). A second strategy is for governments, stakeholders, and practitioners to prioritise educational campaigns and interventions that teach parents and caregivers disciplinary strategies that focus on enhancing children’s understanding rather than enforcing their compliance, and that are based on children’s rights to protection and dignity. 98 – 100

Conclusions

Our review of prospective longitudinal studies has shown that physical punishment is linked with increases in negative child outcomes. Many of these studies used statistical methods to minimise potential confounding and selection bias. The review has documented compelling evidence that physical punishment is harmful to children’s development and wellbeing and has shown no evidence that it is beneficial for children. Given the high prevalence of physical punishment around the world, there is no time to waste—all countries should heed the UN’s call to uphold children’s human rights and promote their wellbeing by prohibiting physical punishment in all forms and all settings.

Overview of included studies, by child outcome

Det=detrimental. Ben=beneficial. NS=not significant. ADHD=attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. CPS=child protective services.

Search strategy and selection criteria

We undertook a literature search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science in June, 2020, and updated the search in October, 2020. The search terms were “physical discipline”, “physical punishment”, “corporal punishment”, “physical chastisement”, “smack”, “spank”, and “slap”. The search syntax for each database can be found in the appendix p 1.

We searched for articles published from January, 2002, onwards, and did not restrict by language or country. We also identified articles from reference lists of earlier reviews and through expert authors. Included studies were peer reviewed; assessed one or more outcomes measured in childhood (up to age 18 years); measured physical punishment by a parent or parental figure (ie, not a teacher); included only parent behaviours that fit our operationalisation of physical punishment; and reported empirical findings from quantitative, prospective designs that adjusted for initial levels of the outcome(s) under study.

We excluded studies that examined severe forms of physical punishment, such as: hitting a child with an object; hitting or slapping on the face, head, or ears; throwing an object at a child; beating; hitting with a fist; punching; kicking; washing a child’s mouth out with soap; throwing down; choking; burning; scalding; and threatening with a knife or gun. We also excluded studies that did not distinguish between physical and verbal forms of punishment. When necessary, study authors were contacted for details to ensure that inclusion criteria were met.

After initial database searches and removal of duplicate articles, all records were divided between two reviewers (AH and AM), who did an initial title screen to exclude irrelevant records that did not relate to physical punishment of children by a parent. Remaining articles were subject to abstract and full-text screening through blind review by AH and AM. Studies were included if both reviewers agreed that inclusion criteria were met. In case of disagreement, consensus was reached through discussion and, when required, a third reviewer (ETG).

For the included studies, data on key study characteristics and findings were extracted ( appendix pp 2–11). We then summarised these characteristics and findings for each outcome category and analysed patterns to identify key themes. Given that some studies used the same datasets, we report findings for independent samples or datasets rather than individual studies.

Supplementary Material

Acknowledgments.

ETG is supported by grant P2CHD042849 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in the USA. YK is supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ES/R008930/1). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We gratefully acknowledge Ms Caroline Fearn who assisted with extracting the data.

Declaration of interests

We declare no competing interests.

See Online for appendix

Contributor Information

Anja Heilmann, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.

Anita Mehay, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.

Richard G Watt, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.

Yvonne Kelly, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.

Joan E Durrant, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Jillian van Turnhout, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Faculty of Paediatrics, Dublin, Ireland.

Elizabeth T Gershoff, Population Research Center and Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.

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Argumentative Essay: Should Corporal Punishment Have a Place in Education?

Corporal punishment is the act of using physical force to punish a student for wrongdoing. It might involve a ruler across the back of the hand or a cane to the rear. Corporal punishment has since been outlawed as a cruel and unusual punishment. In this essay, I explore the for and against of implementing corporal punishment within education.

One reason to bring back corporal punishment is to give power back to teachers again. Teaching staff often struggle to chastise students because current punishments have no intimidation power. If they have no power to intimidate students, there’s nothing to fear and no deterrent. A lack of corporal punishment leaves teachers powerless to prevent bad behavior.

On the other hand, corporal punishment often causes injuries and trauma unnecessarily. Many acts of corporal punishment leave visible marks and bruises. The mental anguish, particularly for vulnerable students, can last a lifetime. This doesn’t have the effect of dealing with bad behavior. It can lead directly to lifelong mental problems.

There are also studies showing corporal punishment has no effect on bad behavior. They demonstrate the behavior altering effects is actually trauma coming to the surface. This can cause chronic low confidence and low self-esteem.

Corporal punishment is a viable alternative to suspension. Children often don’t enjoy school. A suspension from school can send out the message it’s a reward rather than a punishment. Using corporal punishment keeps students in school and punishes them, therefore making it clear it isn’t a reward.

There’s always the risk of it leading to abuse in the classroom, however. Teachers do differ in how hard they hit a student. There’s a difference between a 100-pound female teacher and a 250-pound male teacher delivering corporal punishment. This leads to an uneven system whereby the severity of the punishment largely revolves around luck. It’s unfair on students and only makes abuse by teachers more likely.

When a student is punished severely, parents often have to leave work to collect them and take them home again. It disrupts the school schedule and the parent’s schedule. Constant call-outs could lead to a parent losing their job for being unreliable. It can cause a great deal of damage to a family. Corporal punishment stops this from happening because it places the trust in the hands of the teachers.

Putting trust in teachers isn’t something everyone is willing to do, however. Sexual abuse is a major topic in schools and parents are rightly worried about the chances of this abuse manifesting itself. Abuse comes in many different forms. A male teacher could touch a female student on the breast and claim he was meant to touch her on the shoulder. All corporal punishment does is increase the likelihood of sexual abuse occurring.

These are the main arguments for and against corporal punishment. They discuss the practical aspects and the potential flaws of the system. I believe corporal punishment is a flawed system and there are superior alternatives to discipline, such as expulsion and community service. They offer up a punishment without the abuse.

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The Debate on the Effectiveness of Corporal Punishment Essay (Critical Writing)

Corporal punishment as a form of disciplinary action to children has elicited a fierce debate and controversy over its effectiveness in shaping children’s behavior in the society. Sociologists, psychologists, and legal experts differ on whether corporal punishment has long-term benefits in shaping children’s behavior or not. The difference in opinions has resulted into quest for more research in order to ascertain both short and long-term effects of corporal punishment on children.

Gershoff argues that, “crucial questions remain unanswered, such as what range of child behaviors and experiences are empirically associated with parental corporal punishment, as well as why, how, and for whom corporal punishment might have such effects” (539). Due to lack of empirical evidences to prove whether corporal punishment is harmful or not to the children, the opposing schools of thought are yet to justify their theoretical views and beliefs.

The research concerning corporal punishment is very complex because there are no clear-cut differences between abusive punishment and non-abusive punishment, thus confounding the research findings. Furthermore, corporal punishment and naughty behaviors have intricate relationship in that, it is very difficult to establish causal relationships. Since corporal punishment is associated with untoward childhood behaviors and experiences, it is an ineffective and an undesirable form of parental discipline.

Corporal punishment is ineffective and undesirable form of parental discipline because it only causes immediate compliance, which has short-term effects in shaping child’s behavior contrary to the long-term expectations by the parents. Numerous studies have shown that parents normally administer corporal punishment with the objective of realizing immediate compliance of the children. Empirical studies have proved that short-term compliance due to corporal punishment is very effective in learning.

“There is general consensus that corporal punishment is effective in getting children to comply immediately, but at the same time there is caution from child abuse researchers that corporal punishment by its nature can escalate into physical maltreatment” (Gershoff 549).

Meta-analysis has proved that administration of corporal punishment does not have long-term behavioral change as expected by the parents; it only causes immediate compliance, and this phenomenon beats the logic of using corporal punishment in disciplining children.

Corporal punishment is essential in achieving control of rowdy and disruptive children; nevertheless, it does not help in long-term development of behavior in children. Although corporal punishment has short-term compliance, continued and consistent administration negatively affects internalization of morals.

Continued and consistent administration of corporal punishment affects children negatively in the process internalizing the desired morals. Moral internalization is appropriate mechanism of developing acceptable behaviors because intrinsic factors rather than the extrinsic factors form the essential driving forces that compel children to mature well. Social and emotional maturation of the children critically depends on the intrinsic factors for such factors enable children to internalize moral values and beliefs in the society.

In contrast, extrinsic factors such as corporal punishment seem to have an imposing influence on the intrinsic factors thus affecting internalization of morals. The intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate behavior development during the growth of children have mutually exclusive effect in the development of behaviors.

According to the attribution theory, “theorists emphasize that power-assertive methods such as corporal punishment promote children’s external attributions for their behavior and minimize their attributions to internal motivations corporal punishment … may not facilitate moral internalization because it does not teach children reasons for behaving correctly” (Gershoff 541).

Therefore, corporal punishment does not instill the essence of morality to the children for children subjected to corporal punishment behave according to conditioned punishment. Since the children do not understand the essence of morality, they develop aggressive behaviors to resist or avoid severe corporal punishment.

Administration of corporal punishment results into aggressive behavior; hence it is ineffective and undesirable form of parental discipline. The relationship between corporal punishment and aggressive behavior is very complex to establish causal relationship.

Extensive literature reviews have confirmed that, there is significant positive correlation between corporal punishment and aggressive behaviors among children. These findings imply that corporal punishment promotes development of aggressive behaviors in children, thus inappropriate form of parental discipline.

Based on the attribution theory, the relationship between corporal punishment and aggressive behavior emanate from the fact that corporal punishment interferes with the internalization of moral values and beliefs, leaving children to depend on extrinsic factors as determinants of morality resulting into aggressive defense.

Social control theory also indicates that corporal punishment degrades child-parent relationship, prevent internalization of moral values, and increases aggressive behaviors due to lack of internal motivation and self-control.

Gershoff argues that, “parental corporal punishment affects children primarily by initiating and shaping emotional and cognitive processes in the children, which in turn predispose them to engage in certain behaviors or have particular experiences such as aggression” (551). Hence, cognitive processes are important in mediating and developing aggressive behaviors and experiences. However, it is very difficult to establish causal relationship between corporal punishment and development of naughty behaviors.

Despite the assumption that untoward behavior and experiences relates with corporal punishment, the causal relation between corporal punishment and development of naughty behaviors is blurred which makes it difficult to determine the causational effect. Psychological research depends on observational and experiential models to establish causal relationships but the findings do not consider confounding factors that could possibly mediate assumed causal relationship between corporal punishment and development of naughty behaviors.

Gershoff asserts that although models of correlation have assumed that corporal punishment causes naughty behaviors, they have not sufficiently ruled out the possibility that naughty behaviors to induce corporal punishment, “because corporal punishment occurs rarely and eludes observation, researchers interested in the effects of corporal punishment need to consider more ingenious methods of establishing causality” (556).

Therefore, there is no sufficient evidence to prove that causation relationship exists between corporal punishment and development of naughty behaviors. However, meta-analysis research has attempted to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that corporal punishment causes naughty behaviors in children.

The establishment of causation relationship is quite possible because meta-analysis research measures and monitors behavior development from the earliest point possible thus considering time precedence and isolating other factors that may confound the causational effect. Since there is no significance evidence to rule out that corporal punishment increases development of naughty behaviors, then corporal punishment is ineffective and undesirable form of parental discipline.

In a recap, the controversy regarding the effectiveness of corporal punishment still rages as the opposing schools of thoughts have strong evidence to support their views. Sociologists, psychologists and legal experts have not yet reached a conclusion that corporal punishment elicits untoward behaviors and experiences in children. Given that the relationship between corporal punishment and naughty behavior in children is very complex, it is also difficult to establish the causational relationship without making some assumptions.

Nevertheless, meta-analysis has significantly demonstrated that there is causational relationship between corporal punishment and development of naughty behaviors. The relationship between corporal punishment and naughty behaviors portrays chicken-egg relationship in that, it is difficult to establish which one of two comes first.

Works Cited

Gershoff, Elizabeth. “Corporal Punishment by Parents and Associated Child Behaviors and Experiences: A Meta-Analytic and Theoretical Review.” Psychological Bulletin 128.4 (2002): 539–579.

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Advantages And Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment

Advantages And Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment: Laws are rules and regulations which are made to  control the affairs of people in a society and to improve Law and Order for peace to reign in the society. There are two major types of Law, namely: Civil and Criminal Law. The later Criminal Law prescribes offences in a state and when it is breached by the citizens in any way, punishment shall be meted to such a person guilty of it’s breach.

Disadvantages of Physical Punishment for Children

Notably, there are various forms of punishment, and one form of punishment which has been subject to debate over the years due to the perceived cruelty of such form of punishment is Corporal Punishment. This Article shall therefore examine the meaning of Corporal punishment, it’s advantages as well as it’s disadvantages.

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Table of Contents

What Is Corporal Punishment?

Corporal Punishment is the physical Punishment intended to inflict physical pain on a person who commits an offence.  Corporal punishment could also be defined as an infliction of physical harm or pain to a person in response to an undesired behaviour or action displayed by such a person.

Advantages And Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment

From the above definition, we can all agree that Corporal punishment takes place when a person who commits a crime or does not behave rightly is inflicted physical harm or pain through either Flogging, Slapping, Paddling, Knocking, Pinching, beating, Punching, Mutilation, Human branding, pulling, and hitting which are all forms of Corporal punishment.

I trust these forms of Corporal punishment are self explanatory, except Paddling which refers to the act of hitting or striking a person’s buttocks with a Paddle. Mutilation which means the cutting off a part of a person’s body as a sort of punishment to such a person, and Human Branding which means the process of burning a mark or symbol into the skin of a person.

All these are common forms of Corporal punishment and it is for this reason that there have been lots of debates against the continued existence of Corporal punishment and questions on whether it is lawful, whether it is effective, and why it must stop. Irrespective of the numerous literature which has pointed to the fact that Corporal punishment should be abolished, there are some great advantages of the continued existence of Corporal punishment.

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Advantages (Merits) of Corporal Punishment

1. It is a Simple and quick form of punishment: Corporal punishment is the quickest and simplest form of punishment as it can be administered by anyone, and it doesn’t take time to execute compared to if you want to sentence a person to Prison or impose a fine on such a  person as a sort of punishment, you have to take your time to hear from both parties before you decide to the preferable punishment best suited for such a situation, but Corporal punishment can be easily imposed the moment a wrong has been made.

2. Corporal punishment is often preferred by people: Corporal punishment is usually a preferred sort of punishment by people, especially Children as a Student will rather prefer to be flogged for committing a wrong than to be suspended or expelled from School.

Disadvantages of Physical Punishment for Children

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3. Corporal punishment serves as a deterrent: Corporal punishment inflicts pain on a person and such pain inflicted could help the person prevent the reoccurrence of an action he or she committed which led to the infliction of such corporal punishment.

Nothing serves a better way to deter a person from committing an act than pain, that’s why it is said ‘Once bitten, twice shy’ because once you experience a painful situation, you will try as much as possible to prevent the reoccurrence of such painful situation, as nobody likes pain.

4. It is Reformative: Corporal punishment serves as a means of reforming a person. Hence, it is Reformative in nature as it will make you realize your mistake and deter you from repeating such an act or a similar act again.

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5. Corporal punishment instills Discipline: Corporal punishment instills discipline on a beneficiary of a Corporal punishment, especially Children and it will help produce well mannered and obedient Children.

6. Corporal punishment is cost effective: Corporal punishment unlike other sorts of punishment is cost effective as it is cheap to administer. Corporal punishment is literally the cheapest form of punishment and it’s efficiency will definitely make one adopt it rather than spending resources just to mete punishment upon a person.

While Corporal punishment has some good advantages as elaborated above, it equally has a good number of disadvantages.

What are advantages of corporal punishment

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Disadvantages (Demerits) Of Corporal Punishment

1. Corporal punishment breeds Child Abuse: Child abuse is the physical maltreatment of a Child and Corporal punishment definitely breeds Child abuse as it involves beating a child and inflicting physical harm and pain on that child.

2. Corporal punishment inflicts permanent harm on a person: Corporal punishment doesn’t only inflict physical harm on a person, it also inflicts permanent physical harm as Scars and injuries sustained from corporal punishment such as beating, flogging, paddling, mutilation, and branding remains on a person’s body till eternity.

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3. It is not often logical: According to the United States, Corporal punishment is a traditional means of enforcing discipline and it is not a logical one. This is why USA and over 58 other countries of the world has banned Corporal punishment in most circumstances.

Corporal Punishment is majorly not logical as it inflicts permanent physical harm on a person and it is counterproductive.

4. Corporal punishment is counterproductive: Corporal punishment is often ineffective and counterproductive as it does not compel obedience nor necessary bring about the desired deterrence, rather it hardens a person and increases their behavioural problem. For instance, if you are always flogged, you will get used to it, become harden and show that you are stubborn too. Thus, this sort of corporal punishment will breed more negativity rather than a positive outcome.

Corporal punishment also has negative effects such as Physical and Mental ill health, impaired Social/ emotional development, increased aggression, hardness and retaliation.

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5. It is Inhumane: Some forms of Corporal punishment is really inhumane,. Painful and Barbaric.

6. Corporal punishment is not fairly administered: Corporal punishment is often not fairly administered both in the society and in schools as boys are punished more than girls for the committing the same or similar offence. Also Corporal punishment administers fear on a Child either boy or girl.

7. It is unconstitutional: Some sort of corporal punishment is unconstitutional as it violates the basic fundamental rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution, such as Right to Dignity of Human person which means the freedom of a person from torture and right not to be subject to any sort of inhumane and degrading treatment which is the order of the day imposed by Corporal punishment.

These are some of the major disadvantages of Corporal punishment, and this best explains why most countries of the world have banned it and the remaining countries still permitting Corporal punishment has been subject to intense debates and literature calling them to ban the continued existence of Corporal punishment.

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Based on the totality of the aforementioned Advantages and disadvantages of Corporal punishment, do you think Corporal punishment should be banned in countries still practicing it? Kindly share your opinion in the comment section below.

advantages of corporal punishment essay

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

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2 thoughts on “Advantages And Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment”

advantages of corporal punishment essay

corporal punishment should be totally bann in every society because isn’t good for anyone

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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Corporal Punishment (Essay Sample) 2023

Advantages and disadvantages of corporal punishment.

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Essay Writing

It is undeniable that the need for discipline is a crucial necessity when inculcating positive behavior and shaping the character of children. Various methods of instilling discipline exist among them use of corporal punishment that attracts numerous debates on its utilization. Corporal punishment is the process of utilizing negative reinforcement through inflicting physical pain to a child as a technique of availing punishment for doing wrong in school or at home. The discipline style’s prevalence was in the 1970s, while presently, many countries engage in spirited discussions of the merits and demerits of this form of punishment.

Corporal punishment is beneficial as it is effective. Applying negative consequences towards children’s actions deemed, as bad behavior effectively instills discipline by imparting fear and knowledge of the impending consequence of doing wrong. Therefore, when a child identifies a particular action to spanking or beating, they are more likely to avoid repeating the said behavior, hence acting as a deterrent. Moreover, its instant in nature maintains order by pushing students to behave appropriately.

Corporal punishment saves on cost. In today’s society, more parents and schools opt to correct bad behavior by sending children to therapists who necessitate them to speak out their minds and outline the causes of their actions or boot camps where they are required to learn discipline and change their behavior. However, beating or spanking of children occurs immediately upon the identification of a wrong behavior, giving parents and teachers an opportune time to provide an instant and swift punishment that correct the said behavior once straightaway. Thus, when utilizing this form of punishment at home or in school saves on the costs associated with the other method of disciplining a child.

Contrary, corporal punishment leads to low self-esteem and fear. Hitting and spanking results in traumatizing of children that precipitate them to consider themselves as bad people who have to be hit to improve, thereby developing low self-esteem. Additionally, constant beatings of children to instill proper manners makes them fearful of the people beating them. Consequently, children begin avoiding said parents or teachers, thereby developing strained relationships while in schools, the fear of corporal punishment elicits the increase in cases of school dropouts.

Corporal punishment is not always effective. Although in some cases, children reared with this form of reprimand mature into responsible and controlled individuals, in others it fails to facilitate positive outcomes. For instance, some kids exposed to this disciplinary method become accustomed and develops a thick skin towards it, subsequently, eliminating any fears and successive effectiveness of its use. Hence, become less likely to change. Moreover, hitting and spanking children repeatedly foster tendencies of hostility towards those that inflict this pain, and they push back. Moreover, people earn values such as respect and civility as opposed to forcing them on others. Therefore, continued hitting would not instill them.

Corporal punishment is prone to instigate violence and abuse. In instances where a teacher or a parent is frustrated or angry with an issue, anger is highly likely to consume them when instituting corporal punishment, causing them to cross the line leading to the transformation of affectionate discipline into inflicting injuries and emotional scars to children. Moreover, individuals raised with painful beatings can develop violent tendencies that they associate with receiving respect and obedience ensuing in violence.

In instilling discipline, every parent is accountable for the children they raise. Since no parent in their right mind enjoys inflicting pain, a wide array of punishments are available. For those who require efficient, instant and cost-effective discipline regimen, corporal punishment is favorable.

advantages of corporal punishment essay

COMMENTS

  1. The Advantages of Corporal Punishment

    The main advantages for it are the immediate effectiveness and the low cost. It can also be a strong deterrent to disruptive behavior. Corporal punishment doesn't inflict injury but does involve some pain.

  2. Pro and Con: Corporal Punishment

    Pro Corporal punishment is the appropriate discipline for certain children when used in moderation. Corporal punishment sets clear boundaries and motivates children to behave in school. Corporal punishment is often chosen by students over suspension or detention. Con Corporal punishment can inflict long-lasting physical and mental harm on students.

  3. Corporal Punishment in K-12 Schools

    [ 32] 70% of corporal punishment happens in five states—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas—with the latter two making up 35% of all cases. [ 8] There is no federal ban or law regulating corporal punishment, but the practice is prohibited in the federal Head Start program. In 1977, the US Supreme Court decision in Ingraham v.

  4. 18 Corporal Punishment Pros and Cons

    3. It tends to be a choice that students prefer. Students were given a choice between detention, suspension, or corporal punishment will often choose the latter. That is because it is a swift punishment which doesn't cause older kids to miss classes, activities, or valuable time on the playground.

  5. Corporal punishment and health

    Corporal punishment is linked to a range of negative outcomes for children across countries and cultures, including physical and mental ill-health, impaired cognitive and socio-emotional development, poor educational outcomes, increased aggression and perpetration of violence.

  6. Corporal punishment

    corporal punishment, the infliction of physical pain upon a person's body as punishment for a crime or infraction. Corporal punishments include flogging, beating, branding, mutilation, blinding, and the use of the stock and pillory. In a broad sense, the term also denotes the physical disciplining of children in the schools and at home.

  7. Is corporal punishment an effective means of discipline?

    Corporal punishment leads to more immediate compliant behavior in children, but is also associated with physical abuse. Should parents be counseled for or against spanking? Cite this American Psychological Association. (2002, June 26). Is corporal punishment an effective means of discipline?

  8. PDF Corporal Punishment: The Pros and Cons

    article. AA second major advantage of corporal punishment is that it can be administered quickly and be over with quickly. Suppose, for example, that a child has com- mitted some kind of "major offense" in school. Let's say the child would view either three swats or three days' detention as equally unpleasant consequences.

  9. PDF Corporal Punishment In Schools: Theoretical Discussion And Personal

    against corporal punishment and tried to refute John Wilson's claim in 'Corporal punishment revisited' that mentioned six advantages of corporal punishment. The first advantage Wilson mentions is that corporal punishment "is cheap and easy to administer" (Clark, 2004, p. 364) because it does not need anything, except perhaps a stick.

  10. Physical punishment and child outcomes: a narrative review of

    This narrative review summarises the findings of 69 prospective longitudinal studies to inform practitioners and policy makers about physical punishment's outcomes. Our review identified seven key themes. First, physical punishment consistently predicts increases in child behaviour problems over time. Second, physical punishment is not ...

  11. Argumentative Essay: Should Corporal Punishment Have a Place in

    Children often don't enjoy school. A suspension from school can send out the message it's a reward rather than a punishment. Using corporal punishment keeps students in school and punishes them, therefore making it clear it isn't a reward. There's always the risk of it leading to abuse in the classroom, however.

  12. The Debate on the Effectiveness of Corporal Punishment Essay (Critical

    Corporal punishment as a form of disciplinary action to children has elicited a fierce debate and controversy over its effectiveness in shaping children's behavior in the society. Sociologists, psychologists, and legal experts differ on whether corporal punishment has long-term benefits in shaping children's behavior or not.

  13. Corporal Punishment in Schools Free Essay Example

    John Wilson suggests there are six advantages of corporal punishment: cheap and easy to administer, effective deterrent, effective reform, adjustable pain, fair: because of similar dislike of pain, no permanent damage (p. Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper Topic Deadline: 10 days left Number of pages Email

  14. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Corporal Punishment

    Corporal Punishment, commonly known as "Spanking", is a way of correcting a person, by inflicting physical pain on the body of the culprit. It is a form of punishment that has dwelled with humanity for more than two thousand years. Even in the ancient times, Jesus Christ was flogged by his oppressors before he was crucified on the cross.

  15. Benefits Of Corporal Punishment

    Benefits Of Corporal Punishment Benefits Of Corporal Punishment Decent Essays 998 Words 4 Pages Open Document parental discipline by the meanBenefits of Corporal Punishment Many parents believe using physical punishment on their kids leads to a better disciplined child.

  16. Advantages And Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment

    Corporal punishment also has negative effects such as Physical and Mental ill health, impaired Social/ emotional development, increased aggression, hardness and retaliation. Recommended: Differences Between Arbitration and Litigation. 5. It is Inhumane: Some forms of Corporal punishment is really inhumane,.

  17. The Benefits Of Corporal Punishment

    The benefits cited by those supporting spanking as acceptable method of discipline varied across culture and race. Generally, there are three views or positions about spanking as a form of discipline (Benject C. & Kazdin A, 2003) : Pro-corporal punishment, anti-corporal punishment, and conditional corporal punishment.

  18. An Introduction to the Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporal Punishment

    Corporal Punishment Corporal punishment is a very complex and controversial topic. It's hard to decide what is right and what is wrong when discussing how to discipline children. For those of you who are not familiar with the term corporal punishment it is the use of physical force with the...

  19. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Corporal Punishment Towards...

    Fear, anxiety, depression, and aggression are just some of the psychological effects of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment causes a fear and lack of trust between parent and child. The effects of corporal punishment often carry consequences into adulthood for those children. While corporal punishment creates a quick stop to an undesirable ...

  20. Benefits Of Corporal Punishment

    "The study adds to a growing body of research showing that physical punishment in childhood can lead to poor mental health in adulthood, including increased risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol abuse….The findings suggest that eliminating all physical punishment of children would reduce the prevalence of mental disorders, the resea...

  21. Speech: The Advantages Of Corporal Punishment?

    On the report of Vokell, "A major advantage of corporal punishment is that it is very likely to be perceived by the recipient as unpleasant. To critics of corporal punishment, this "advantage" may sound like a disadvantage.

  22. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Corporal Punishment, Essay Sample 2023

    Corporal punishment is beneficial as it is effective. Applying negative consequences towards children's actions deemed, as bad behavior effectively instills discipline by imparting fear and knowledge of the impending consequence of doing wrong.

  23. Essay Against Corporal Punishment

    Essay Against Corporal Punishment. 907 Words4 Pages. Corporal punishment should be kept in Hong Kong. Corporal punishment is the act of disciplining by inflicting physical pain, as retribution for an offence or wrongdoing. In nowadays, both traditional and modern families would still adapt this form of education as it is beneficial in the long ...