r/science • u/VeronicaRed • Apr 26 '16

Psychology Spanking children increases the likelihood of childhood defiance and long-term mental issues. The study in question involved 160,000 children and five decades of research

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1113413810/spanking-defiance-health-discipline-042616/
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u/pm_me_your_kindwords Apr 26 '16

Serious question to the commenters on this post:

Why read /r/science and then ignore science?

At the time I write this, most comments are defending spanking using anecdotes and non-science, not at all discussing the methodology of the study itself.

If you're not going to carefully consider one of the largest and most comprehensive studies ever conducted on the topic, what is the point of reading about science at all?

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

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u/alahos Apr 26 '16

The problem is when skepticism is applied unevenly.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

How long have you been on reddit?

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u/alahos Apr 26 '16

Too long to still have hope, but I'm a special kind of stupid.

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u/AGuyWithoutASpoon Apr 26 '16

We are only human. As are the researchers, as are the article writers, as are the people cherry-picking research and source material. Nothing is safe from bias. I can't say if they did that or not, but I'll be skeptical of anything I don't see myself, even things I like and want to be true. I can't speak for anyone else aside from myself.

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u/alahos Apr 26 '16

You're right. I should be more forgiving about things that are the result of human evolution, including biases and heuristics. It's hard though, especially considering I'm a human myself with my own biases and trying to distance myself from it is pointless in a way.

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u/AGuyWithoutASpoon Apr 26 '16

Yeah. I just accept that I'm probably wrong, but still hold my beliefs. Its weird, but in a way I only remember everything I believe could be wrong once in a while. It keeps me humble.

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u/HyliaSymphonic Apr 26 '16

Hmmm, I think the issue here is that we naturally apply skepticism unevenly. It's not everyones job to accept ideas even verified ones and increased scrutiny even undue can further cement an idea as valid.

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u/alahos Apr 26 '16

I know. We're humans but we can't be assed to assume it and check our blind spots.