Human development
"Is physical punishment harmful to children?"
Introduction
Physical punishment is also known as corporal punishment and this is an act of providing discipline associated with physical pain to children. Parents are responsible in managing the behavior of their children though they face a lot of challenges. Many parents opt to use physical punishment as the best, quick and effective method of punishing their children for upsetting behaviors. In the past century, parents argue that they experienced physical punishment and it did not cause any harm but rather they changed their behavior and shaped their lives. Parents argue that physical punishment cannot be neglected since they have the roles and responsibility to punish children with reasonable and fair manner. I urge that physical punishment is an effective way of disciplining if only parents do not apply unnecessary physical force which can cause physical and mental damage. Generally, physical punishment is not harmful to children and it is an effective way of dealing with undesirable behaviors.
Oas (2010) asserts that corporal punishment such as spanking is an effective form of discipline. Various studies on children and punishment have confirmed that majority of parents use physical punishment, and the important point is that even psychologists use physical punishment and they recommends parents to apply this method. The author assert that despite that there is a public controversy on physical punishment, several researches and meta-analyses shows that physical punishment is very effective in eliminating undesirable behaviors and hence influences positive behavior (Oas, 2010). He argues that physical punishment is not associated with physical abuse as opponents assert. There is a difference between physical abuse and physical punishment in that the former is related with injury such as kicking, burning, slapping and so on while the latter is associated with physical force such as pinching ear or hand which is intended to cause pain so that a child can change his behavior (Oas, 2010). Physical punishment does not cause any injury and its purpose is to get the child’s attention through pain rather than physical abuse which cause damage. ‘The National Clearing House of Child Abuse’ puts it clear by asserting that a punishment which does not cause physical injury is known as corporal punishment and vice versa (Oas, 2010). There is also evidence from various professional literatures that physical punishment is not associated with physical aggression. For example, the literatures show that ‘controlling spanking’ is an effective technique of discouraging anti-social behavior and reinforcing compliance. Rather than using other disciplinary tactics, professional literatures concludes that ‘conditional spanking’ is the best method as it is associated with positive outcomes. Finally, the author asserts that corporal punishment is an effective method for ‘back up techniques’. This means that parents tend to value physical punishment rather than non-physical methods since the methods help them to implement milder disciplinary techniques (Oas, 2010).
Romano, Bell and Norian (2013) argue that physical punishment is not harmful to children and many liberal democracies have authorized the physical punishment as an effective technique of providing discipline to children. The idea of ‘pain-inflicting practices’ is morally permissible with respect to persuasive justification. The authors support their arguments by introducing the Canadian Criminal Code Section 43 which states that parents are allowed to use physical force in disciplining their children. It states that ‘by way of correction’ both parents and teachers should provide discipline to the children as a way of controlling their behaviors (Romano, Bell & Norian, 2013). Physical punishment is associated with favorable attitude of disciplining. The law puts emphasizes that corporal punishment involves pinching, shaking, spanking among more. The act is intentional and its purpose it to change behavior and create a positive mindset in children. The Canadian Criminal Code recognizes that parents have the responsibility to use physical actions in bringing up children.
According to my own opinion and with respect to my faith, I understand that physical punishment is not hatful but rather it shapes the children behavior and helps them in their development. I believe that in parenting, parents should not spare the rod so that they can create desirable behavior in the entire life of the child. I experienced physical punishment from my father when I was young and this did not affect my physical and mental ability. In my development, we had a close connection with my father simply because when he was punishing me, he had a positive attitude of shaping my whole life. I support my opinion with credible information provided by Flurry and Swimberghe (2016). Both authors introduce a new aspect of child development and assert that adolescents’ ethical judgment is determined by the parenting style. According to this review, I understand that children gain cognitive development, moral standards and ethical decisions with respect to the environment they develop in. In cognitive moral development, children experience three stages namely; preconvectional- children shape their behaviors and create ethical decision as a result of physical consequences of an action. Convectional-children understand the acceptable behavior and apply social rules and moral decisions in doing what is right. Postconvectional- children use universal standards and understand the right and wrong actions with respect to law and justice (Flurry, & Swimberghe, 2016). Thus, I believe that physical punishment is for behavior change and child development. Other important point of physical punishment is that a child is able to make sound judgment and personal assessment on the right and wrong actions. The cognitive development theory asserts that positive parenting shapes the behavior and children develops with knowledge of evaluating positive and negative behaviors and the time they are matured, they are able to make sound judgment on their behaviors (Flurry, & Swimberghe, 2016).
There a great controversy between opponents and supporters on whether physical punishment is harmful or not. Wilson, (2002) states that physical punishment is inflicting physical pain on the offender’s body in response to the wrong actions done. He argues that pain is unpleasant and it is better to deal to apply pain in physical punishment rather than incarcerating the wrong doer. Physical punishment does not cause any harm but rather the invasive and irresistible pain affects the personality (Wilson, 2002). The author supports his ideas by asserting that physical punishment is quick and effective in preventing the occurrence of wrong action. In addition, the fear of physical pain creates reformation where a person tends to change behaviors to avoid reoffending. Other important point is that in 19th and 20th century, physical punishment was an important technique of punishing students and it was associated with positive outcomes as students were motivated and behaved in an desirable manner (Wilson, 2002). Thus, physical punishment does not cause harm but rather teachers use it as a social way of motivating behavior.
The readings have strengthened my mind and gained a comprehensive understanding of the topic on human development. I have understood reasons why some parents like and other dislike physical punishment. The credible information has helped me to take my position and to argue that physical punishment is not harmful and it is the effective way of punishing. I have learnt that children develop differently in that some children can engage in undesirable behavior in their adolescence if they are physically punished and others can be able to make sound judgment of their actions in their adult life. Questions which emerge after reading the source materials are: ‘How will children make ethical judgment between wrong and right if parents will not punish them physically?’ ‘Can other alternatives of punishing a child bring positive outcomes and influence cognitive development?’
Conclusion
Corporal punishment is a technique of disciplining a child and both teachers and parents have applied the method for many years. There is a disagreement between opponents and supports on whether physical punishment is harmful or not. I believe that physical punishment is not harmful and it is an effective way of dealing with undesirable behaviors.Various studies has concluded that there is difference between physical punishment and physical abuse. Physical punishment like pinching cause’s pain but it is not associated with physical injury. On the other hand, physical abuse such hitting, burning and more causes injury or in others words it is associated with physical maltreatment. The important thing to note is that physical punishment is intended to shape behavior and it helps a child to comply immediate with the positive actions. It plays an important role in child’s development as he or she develops with knowledge and skills which helps the child to make ethical and sound judgment. According to my own opinion or my faith, parents and teachers should not spare the rod. This means that they should use physical punishment with credible justification in dealing with undesirable behaviors.
Reference
Oas, P. T. (2010). Current Status on Corporal Punishment With Children: What the Literature Says.
American Journal Of Family Therapy, 38(5), 413-420.
Flurry, L. A., & Swimberghe, K. (2016). Consumer Ethics of Adolescents. Journal Of Marketing Theory &
Practice, 24(1), 91-108. doi:10.1080/10696679.2016.1089766
Wilson, J. (2002). Corporal Punishment Revisited. (Cover story). Cambridge Journal Of Education, 32(3),
409-416. doi:10.1080/0305764022000024249
Romano, E., Bell, T., & Norian, R. (2013). Corporal Punishment: Examining Attitudes Toward the Law and
Factors Influencing Attitude Change. Journal Of Family Violence, 28(3), 265-275.
doi:10.1007/s10896-013-9494-0
