Is Spanking A Sufficient Means Of Punishment?

Introduction

Physical punishments such as spanking to the children refer to the act done by the parent or a guardian that liberates discomfort to the minor or physical pain as a response due to undesired behavior. The spanking is administered through open hand or with implements such as paddles, slippers, cane or even belt that can cause the minor to stay in uncomfortable positions. It is a common way of administrating discipline to the minors as it has been there for days. Constitutional child abuse is referred to the act of the parent or guardian that may potentially harm the child. In different cultures, parents and guardians are deemed to have the right to punish their children for misbehaving as a way of teaching appropriate conduct. With time, there has been researching conducted by using this type of punishment to minors. This is due to the effect that has been evidently shown by children who have been subjected to this type of punishment. The effect of this type of punishment has been seen to affect the minors negatively that has resulted to more aggressive behaviors and less obedience in the long-term. There have been adverse effects such as anxiety, antisocial behavior, depression and increase in physical abuse that have made many including pediatricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists to come out strongly against the administration of corporal discipline in schools and homes.

Spanking as part of the punishment to minors is not the most effective method to deal with children who are disobedient. In personal experience, it is true to say that this type of punishment is most done when the parent or the guardian is under stress or angry. With defiance of minors, it is most probable that the parents might hit the child without thinking the effect it will have on the children. These can result into violence and abuse that will only make the child worse (Wallace & Roberson 2015). Corporal punishment does conflict with the religious ideology on the discipline to the children. Corporal discipline was done out of the love for the child but did not say to which extent. This has made guardians slow on deciding the best method to administer discipline to the minors since if one is reluctant to do so then there is a possibility that the child will be spoiled and hate their children (Wallace & Roberson 2015).

Spanking is wrong in all aspects and this has led to raging debates all over. According to Reeves & Cuddy (2014), Adrian Peterson was shown on hitting his son using a switch. This caused a public uproar as it was generalized that Peterson was wrong even though he have the right to punish his son. The debate, however, died after two months most probably because the American parents hit their children. According to the statistics, 70% of the parents agreed that it was equally important to discipline their children (Reeves & Cuddy 2014). Although they agreed it is for the best to discipline the children the method that should be used is still facing debate.

Parents that continuously spank their children they develop a great distant of a parent-child relationship. This is because the punishment may lead to alcohol and drug abuse according to the research studies. The spanking aims at putting an immediate stop to the undesired behavior but do not address the future date (Wallace & Roberson 2015). The children become more aggressive when a child and an adult. As a child being on the receiving end, it results in learning about being violent to get own way. This results into bullying in school and partners abuse with time. A study carried out shows 40% of father and 52% of mothers who engaged in children spanking when they were of five ears showed externalizing behaviors and an array of risk that resulted into a lower child receptive (Wallace  & Roberson 2015). This shows that spanking is a typical nurturing experience for the American child. With the research, the statistics show that spanking on the child have a negative effect on the behavioral on the child that is longitudinal from childbirth to the age of nine (Wallace & Roberson 2015).

A decrease in cognitive ability in children in early childhood is evident due to corporal punishment in children. Children who are subjected to this punishment treatment are slow in gaining cognitive ability compared to those that are not spanked (Belkin, 2008). Evidence have continued to emerge to show the negativity of spanking on minors. With the recent experimental study showed the attendance of punitive and non-punitive school environment. Children in the punitive environment did perform worse than those who were in non-punitive environments (Belkin, 2008). Hitting children are often associated with behavioral problems and slow skill development. This may have the implication of their daily life and social mobility. This is especially due to the prevalence of punishment that differs across the socio-economic group.

 International human rights such as Committee on the Rights of the Children and other treaty bodies have been actively involved in ending all forms of corporal punishment. They argue that this way of punishment violates the children’s rights and dignity to physical integrity. There are laws that exist against battering, assault, and even child abuse. This organization pushes for the laws because the result of this punishment can be damaging to the minor. Although domestic punishment is legal the organization has the right to prosecute the parent or guardian that has excessively punished their children resulting in damages. They argue that parents should embrace more effective, non-violent methods to discipline the children (Belkin, 2008). The organization also argues that the effect of punishment is both short-term and long-term. The say that this method is extreme and should not be used as it is inappropriate. This method is limited to effectiveness as it has potentially deleterious effect (Bialik, 2009).Their programs are greatly driven with the negativity it has the children development. They also point out that for this type of punishment to be effective is always driven by anger and physical aggression in order to cause pain. This is dangerous since the results of anger can be damaging to the child health and its well-being. The organization also believes that this punishment also polarizes parent-child relationship. The aim of providing protection to the minors and advocating for ways that can promote desirable characteristics (Bialik, 2009).

Children’s reaction to such punishment is filled with negative comments. Children who are subjected to such punishment testify of being hurt not only physically but they are also hurt from inside (Khoo, 2016). This causes negative emotions such as confusion, resentment, hatred, sadness, anger and humiliation. This cause’s slow development due to the fear created and impedes learning that is not constructive as a result of poor reasoning. It also perpetuates violence among children as a method of resolving conflicts. Such comments from the children suggest that children are sensitive to double standards and inequality. The experience horrifies the children as it really hurts them. This causes pain a distress to the minors which with time it precipitates to mental-health issues.  This may also cause the children to run away from their homes due to the pain they experience. It also creates the feeling that their parents don’t like them anymore (Wallace & Roberson 2015)

Less aggressive methods of punishment can greatly reduce the effect of spanking as a form of punishment to the children. This will eliminate the slow development the children experience due to the punishment. This will also reduce the chances of mental illness associated with the punishment. Fear and the feeling of not being liked by their parents will have no space in the child. This will also reduce the chances of the child becoming more aggressive and using violent means in order to solve any conflict that they may encounter (Baumrind, Larzelere &Owen 2010).

    It is ironic to say despite all the negativity that comes along with using spanking as a method of punishment there are positive elements that can be derived from it. Psychical punishment as a disciplinary method tames undesirable characteristics and behaviors that are shown by the children (Lee & Huang, 2012). This makes them aware of committing such crimes again will result in some disciplinary action. This also makes them cautious of what they do and thus making them responsible. This type of punishment also makes and creates stronger individuals (Lee & Huang, 2012). This can only be realized if the effect of the punishment is not negative. Although it is difficult to show how this can be made possible through such punishment, there are those parents who believe they can only mold their children behaviors by spanking them. This is because it is a culture that worked for them and they still believe that it can work for their children. Young parents may also consider spanking of their children as a way of punishment to their defiant children in order to instill discipline (Lee & Huang, 2012).

Conclusion

Parenting using spanking is not the best method to use this is because of the negative impacts it has on the children.  There should be policies that will improve parenting method and the way to administer discipline that can promote positive and desirable characteristic in the children through methods such as reading. It is worth saying alternatives methods such as speaking to the child will facilitate the children development in the long term. The distance that is developed to the spanking the children will also be reduced which will facilitate proper and great bonding between the child and the guardian or the parent. Parents and guardians should be educated on the adverse effects their children may have when subjected to this type of punishment for long. The aim of every parent is to instill discipline in their children which can be achieved by using less violent methods.

 

Reference

Reeves V.R & Cuddy E (2014); Hitting Kids; American Parenting and Physical Punishment;             Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington,

Lee, M., & Huang, F. (2012). Finding dynamic treatment effects under anticipation: the effects of spanking on behavior. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics In Society), 175(2), 535-567. doi:10.1111/j.1467-985X.2011.01001.x

Baumrind, D., Larzelere, R. E., & Owens, E. B. (2010). Effects of Preschool Parents' Power Assertive Patterns and Practices on Adolescent Development. Parenting: Science & Practice,          10(3), 157-201. doi:10.1080/15295190903290790

Wallace .H.P & Roberson .C; (2015) Family Violence; Legal, Medical and Social Perspectives;   Routledge

Bialik.C ;( 2009) New Research on spanking might need a time out; the wall street journal;          Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125548136491383915

Belkin. L (2008); When is spanking Child Abuse? The New York Times; Retrieved from             http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/when-is-spanking-child-abuse/?_r=0

Khoo. I; (2016); Spanking Law; You can’t spank kids in these countries; the Huffington Post;      Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/01/spanking-law_n_9133170.html