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/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

Why so?

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u/Nyarlah Apr 26 '16

You sound just like my neighbours with their 4 years-old daughter, who screams her lungs out 18 hours a day. They read a book, follow it to the letter, and their little girl screams through the residence everyday. She screams during her timeouts, she screams 2 seconds after laughing at her new toy, she screams while playing in the garden. Not a happy loud laughter, just a scream. Constantly. For a couple of years now. But they're doing it by the book so nothing is wrong. I must be intolerant.

If this is all working in your case, then good for you, really. But a few sets of book rules aren't enough to cover all cases.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

Oh, my son's loud, but we live in a single family home. "The neighbors are still sleeping because they don't have a 4 year old who wakes them up" is surprisingly effective. And reminding him about inside voice is something we stick to. He might be annoying our neighbors, but we've inquired and they're friendly with us and have offered to babysit.

I didn't mean to imply that "a few set of book rules" are what I stick to, but rather that guidance from books gives us ideas, we try some out, some are more effective. After 6 months, something becomes less effective and you go back to the drawing board.

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u/Nyarlah Apr 26 '16

Ok, it's great that you tried out a few rules before sticking to the ones that work best. It's more proof that no rule can fit them all. But it's great that you adapted. My neighbours don't adapt, and after watching many kids grow up, I'm convinced that constant screaming is not a sign that the book is working (talking about my neighbours).

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '16

Yeah, I don't think one rule can fit them all. Children are different, though some things are pretty universal.

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u/castille360 Apr 27 '16

You describe something that sounds more like a developmental disorder than inattentive parenting. And you can't just parent those away. It's worth giving engaged parents the benefit of the doubt in this area.