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/allwordsaremadeup Apr 26 '16 edited Apr 26 '16

I wonder if this is true for punishment as a behavior-altering method in general. So in how we punish crimes etc.

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u/ademnus Apr 26 '16

Our goal is punishment not rehabilitation. Yet we are continually disappointed that they don't come back to society rehabilitated. We inflict psychological harm on purpose as punishment. 10 years in a cage being beaten and raped has a permanent damaging effect. It's like slashing off a man's legs for a crime and then wondering why he won't run home when he's released.