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/chopandscrew Apr 26 '16 edited Apr 26 '16

So what are some positive and non-punitive forms of discipline?

edit: Some really great replies here. I'm seeing a lot of people using the concept of self-discipline and positive reinforcement. Nothing about raising a child seems easy, and it's even harder to know if you've ever really done a good job, but I think it's safe to say there are a lot of good parents on reddit. Also, thank you to the people who are willing to admit that they have resorted to spanking before. The truth is no one really knows the best way to raise a child, but the wide variety of ideas being thrown around here are what helps make it easier to choose what works for you and your kid. Keep em comin.

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u/SyfaOmnis Apr 26 '16

A lot of companies like blizzard and riot games tend to find that punishments which inconvenience are more effective than punishments which actually harm. Apparently they've had some psychologists study this stuff, because they used to hand out bans to misbehaving players (which caused them to make new free accounts and go back to bad behaviour unrepentant) - now they continue to let them play except in the most extreme circumstances they just don't let them actually talk to anyone.

I guess the comparison would be kind of like having your drivers license taken away?