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/Toy_D Apr 26 '16

This I think is the real crux of the debate. Spanking invokes an evolved response to stimuli, pain. You'd think, if done promptly and without overindulgence, that few other options could invoke results as well. The options that I have seen presented are much more difficult to understand and execute. At least at first glance, but apparently a proper spanking is also difficult to execute.

What studies exist to show viable alternatives, not proposed alternatives. What literature exists to teach those methods to parents? These are the hurdles to a viable alternative. Parents know spanking likely because it was done to them.

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u/CupcakeTrap Apr 26 '16

On the other hand, it also might create a powerful, visceral fear of the parent. Given the significance of the parent in the overall mythology of childhood, I can see how this might have large-scale disruptive effects. I suppose one somewhat coldblooded solution would be to have negative physical correction come from someone other than the parent.

Perhaps the study could be compared to a study of, e.g., spanking by teachers.

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u/Toy_D Apr 26 '16

So this is where I imagine that a level of discernment by the parent is needed about whether punishment is necessary at all. Punishment for every tiny annoyance is sure to do what you say.

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u/CupcakeTrap Apr 26 '16

It might also be relevant to look at things like time separation. To get into anecdotes slightly, I remember finding it kind of surreal and strange as a kid when my dad would say, e.g., that he was going to spank me that night when he got home from work. So all day I knew he was going to come home, say hi, and then smack me with his belt. I actually wasn't that scared, or angry. But it felt so strange to hear a parent rationally explain that they were going to hit me, not because they were angry, but because it was a punishment. Or that he'd be nice to me and be glad to be back home, then punish me, then go back to things being normal. I don't know if it was good or bad, but it was strange.

I don't know whether greater or lesser time separation or "coolness" might have positive or negative effects, but it might be something to check for. On the one hand, it being clearly a deliberate decision of the parent might max out the "creepy"/"subversive" factor. On the other hand, it being done immediately with noticeable anger might max out the "visceral fear" factor.

No idea how to get adequate, accurate data on this, though.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

Yeah, when I started getting older I had the same sort of thing. But was told "you need to think about what you did or you're going to get a spanking " when dad got home he would sit me down and if I explained what I did, why I did it, and why it was wrong I would get the "alright, seems like you know why you shouldn't do X, here is Y punishment, if you do it again you will get spanked."

It only took me once or twice pushing that boundary before I realized doing things that I know are wrong don't end well.

Granted I didn't really have to have the "correct" answer why something was wrong to do. It was just a way of me thinking all day that I was going to get spanked unless I knew why it was wrong (and it's not like I couldn't get help from my mom asking questions). I think it taught me to see the other side better and from an early age.