Question

DIscussion :

So I'm sure that many of us have been in a grocery store, mall, park or religious establishment where families are hanging out, when, you notice a child misbehaving. I'm sure that we also notice how the child's caregiver(s) react to the child's behavior. Some may ignore the child, some may hold their child, some walk the child out into a different environment, and some may even hit their child.

For this post, I would like for us to focus on the, at times, controversial topic of corporal punishment. I would also like us to apply the principles of learning to the discussion. However, I know the first major problem when discussing this topic is how each of us define corporal punishment. For example, I have a friend who would deny that he has ever "hit" his child, but, umm...he does! He spanks them all of the time, but just didn't refer to "spanking" as "hitting". This example is consistent with the problem that researchers have with this topic...how do you define corporal punishment?  Are all forms bad? Do children learn from this form of punishment?

I realize that many of us do not have children, but I'm sure that we have, at least, initial opinions about the topic either from personal experiences of our own upbringing and/or from what we have witnessed in others. So, for this post, I would like for you to write about the following:

1). Discuss your views of corporal punishment. This might be best started with your definition of corporal punishment. What are your experiences with the topic? Should it be used in parenting a child?  

2). How do your views of how your child should treat other children affect your opinion of this topic?  In other words, if you believe in punishing someone for misbehavior by hitting them, would you feel comfortable with your child doing the same to a classmate or friend? Oppositely, if you believe in alternative means of punishing misbehavior, would you feel comfortable with your child using the same methods with others? If they do not match, explain your justification.

3). What does research say about this approach to punishment?  Is is effective? Does it matter how far you go (i.e., spanking, smacking hand, belt, fist)? What are the long-term effects of such punishment?

4). Based on your research findings, is your opinion of corporal punishment supported?  In either case, does it change your thoughts of what you are currently doing/will do?

5). Name one alternative approach (outside of corporal punishment) from your current ways/thoughts of punishing that you believe would work in decreasing a child's misbehavior.  In other words, what else could you do based on what research finds effective to deal with a child's misbehavior.

Answer 1

1) Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment intended to cause pain and unpleasantness. It is usually incorporated on children and minors in school or home settings. It involves spanking, hitting or slapping.

Corporal punishment leaves bad memories and scars a child would not feel pleasant looking back at. Some punishment could be harsh and cause fear with anxiety to arise in the child. Most times coporal punishment is used to discipline the child which might be alright. This depends on the degree and reason for punishment.

I would suggest corporal punishment to be best avoided in all times and to seek other forms of punishment that is not harmful or causing pain. Children adopt and imitate behaviours of caregivers or parents. Therefore such acts of punishment could be leaned and projected outside the home setting for the child.

2) It is wrong for a child to act the same way causing pain or unpleasantness to other children. It causes hurt and negative feelings. Other foms of discipline like the silent treatment, time out and written apologies or changed behaviour can be good alternatives to corporal punishment. Such habits adopted by children is also far better when socializing.

3) Research does not support this form of punishment, although most of us who were disciplined through corporal punishment came out alright. It does matter how far you go with the degree of corporal punishment and duration of it. It can lead to life long scars and bad memories for the child throughout his/ her adult life. These memories can be accompnied by different emotions and other mental associations. Avoiding this negativity is better off with. The child may also act out hurtful unconsciously in his adulthood as such behaviours were seen or learned at home. This could impact the individual sense of self.

4) This view and opinion of being against corporal punishment has been supported by many. There are lot of UN research and studies that discourage corpoal punishment and the ill effects of it. Children should be given memorable happy childhoods with proper form of discipline.

5) An alternative approach to corporal punishment to decrease undesired behaviours would be the silent treatment approach or negative reinforcement. This can be done by removing something the child enjoys for example play time. When misbehaviour occurs, reduce play time and only allow it when the behaviour has improved.