Violence Against Kids

Did you know every 3 in 4 parents use corporal punishment? Good morning class today I will be addressing corporal punishment for children and why it should be illegal.

Scientific studies have established that under some circumstances, corporalpunishment of children can increase short-term compliance with parental commands, although comparisons in the same studies with alternative punishments such as oneminute time-outs did not establish that corporal punishment was more effective.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), however, in an official policy statement states that "Corporal punishment is of limited effectiveness and has potentially deleterious side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents be encouraged and assisted in the development of methods other than spanking for managing undesired behavior."

In particular, the AAP holds that any corporal punishment methods other than open-hand spanking on the buttocks "are unacceptable" and "should never be used". The policy statement points out, summarizing several studies, that "The more children are spanked, the more anger they report as adults, the more likely they are to spank their own children, the more likely they are to approve of hitting a spouse, and the more marital conflict they experience as adults." Spanking has been associated with higher rates of physical aggression, more substance abuse, and increased risk of crime and violence when used with older children and adolescents."

Opponents argue that any form of violence is by definition abusive. Some psychology research indicates that corporal punishment causes the destruction of trust bonds between parents and children. Children subjected to corporal punishment may grow resentful, shy, insecure, or violent.

Adults who report having been slapped or spanked by their parents in childhood have been found to experience elevated rates of anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse or dependence and externalizing problems as adults. Some researchers have shown that corporal punishment actually works against its objective (normally obedience), since children will not voluntarily obey an adult they do not trust. A child who is physically punished may have to be punished more often than a child who is not.

Researcher Elizabeth Gershoff, with 60 years of research on corporal punishment, found that the only positive outcome of corporal punishment was immediate compliance; however, corporal punishment was associated with less long-term compliance. Corporal punishment was linked with nine other negative outcomes, including increased rates of aggression, delinquency, mental health problems, problems in relationships with their parents, and likelihood of being physically abused.

Some proponents of corporal punishment argue that those opposed to it simply do not understand the stresses of parenthood. Opponents counter that this argument raises the question of whether corporal punishment is meant as a constructive lesson for the child, or as a form of stress-relief for angry parents.

Opponents also note that