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Parenting Parenting Research
Consequences of Physical Punishment on Children: A Brief
Literature Review
Based on a review of over one hundred studies of physical
punishment of children by parents and of several hundred other
studies and writings on parental socialization practices,
the project team has evolved the following list of consequences
of physical punishment on children, arranged here as immediate,
short and medium range, and long-range. A few supportive references
are cited for each conclusion.
Immediate
- Will stop misbehavior, but no more effectively than other
firm measures
(Day & Roberts, 1983; LaVoie, 1974; Straus, 1994)
- Can easily escalate to child abuse
(Kadushin & Martin, 1981; Straus, 1994)
Short and Medium-range
- Can not teach what to do--new, appropriate, or
alternative behavior
(Graziano et al, 1996; McCord, 1996)
- Does not deter child from repeating same behavior (any
better than other tactics)
(Gallup, 1995; Graziano et al, 1996)
- Hinders rather than improves compliance (especially when
not in presence of parents)
(Kuczynski, 1983; Power & Chapieski, 1986; Straus,
Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997)
- Undermines reasoning, explanation and other forms of
"parental induction", because child cannot learn,
reason, or problem-solve well while experiencing threat,
pain, fear, or anger.
(Selye, 1976; Straus & Paschall, 1998)
- Is inconsistent with non-violent precepts
(APA, 1995)
- Increases probability of aggressive acting out; teaches
children that hitting is the way to solve problems
(Strassberg et al, 1994; Straus, 1994; Straus,
Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997; Thompson, 2000)
- Chips away at bond of affection between parent and child;
induces resentment and fear.
(McCord, 1996; Rohner, Kean, & Courneyer, 1991; Straus,
1994)
Long-range
- Children don’t learn to take responsibility for their
own behavior ("external attribution")-- control
behavior to avoid being hit (punished) rather than on basis
of what is right or wrong.
(Graziano & Kunce, 1992; Nisan, 1992)
- Hinders development of empathy and compassion; child
focuses on own pain rather than on effects of behavior on
others.
(Eisenberg & McNally, 1993; Kestenbaum, Farber &
Sroufe, 1989; Koestner, Franz, & Weinberger, 1990)
- Is a risk factor (increases the probability) for a number
of undesirable social and psychological circumstances:
- Low self-esteem and morale
(Thompson, 2000; Turner & Finkelhor, 1996; Straus,
1994)
- Alienation, depression, suicide
(Straus & Kaufman-Kantor, 1994)
- Alcohol & drug abuse
(Straus & Kaufman-Kantor, 1994)
- Uncontrolled anger, aggression/abusiveness: spouse
battering, child abuse
(Straus & Kaufman-Kantor, 1994)
- Delinquency, vandalism, and other adolescent problem
behavior
(Cohen & Brooks, 1995; Deater-Deckard & Dodge,
1997; Straus, 1994)
- Violent crime--assault, murder, rape, robbery
(McCord, 1988, 1991)
- Lessened educational, economic and occupational achievement
(Graziano & Kunce, 1992; Straus & Mathur,
1994, 1995)
- Can become an "easy-way out" for youngsters--"easier"
than restitution, reconciliation, grounding, penalties
(Coloroso, 1994)
- Becomes impossible as child grows bigger and stronger
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