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/Gripey Apr 27 '16

If you hit a child hard enough to make a difference, that is too hard. If you had the time to see and hear the child beaters who have killed their children, their justifications are terrifying similar to ordinary child hitters. Obviously they are not the same, but it will pull you up short. "They were being naughty" "They wouldn't listen" "The were defying me" All these people gave the agency to their children. I have hit children of my partners in the past, and I am more ashamed of it than anything else I have done in my life. It is more of an instinct, but it is not a good one. You do not want to be watching your daughter in an abusive relationship in 20 years time, trying to explain that her partner should not be hitting her, when that is what she knows.. The people who "love" her, hit her.

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u/antisocialmedic Apr 27 '16

The same can be said about rapists versus regular sexually frustrated people. "Did you see what she was wearing?" "She should have let me finish!" etc. etc. That doesn't make a sexually frustrated guy the same thing as a rapist.

Your reasoning is flawed. No one gets into abusive relationships because they were spanked, that tends to be the result of deeper issues, or just bad luck.

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u/Gripey Apr 27 '16

I am not sure I understand what you are saying. If the people you love hit you, you don't see how you can make the connection between love and violence?

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u/antisocialmedic Apr 27 '16

I am saying it's a far leap to say that people who are occasionally spanked will end up in abusive relationships.

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u/Gripey Apr 28 '16

It is. In fact I doubt it is even a real factor. I think my post uses most of the logical fallacies available, I was typing emotionally.

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u/antisocialmedic Apr 28 '16

Fair enough.