Effects of Corporal Punishment on Children When Used in the Home

Effects of Corporal Punishment on Children When Used in the Home Discussion about corporal punishment is everywhere. It is in the news and in the home, and in education on what is punishment and what is abuse is beginning to rise. Corporal punishment has been used as a disciplinary tool for parents throughout all of America's history (Gershoff, 2002, p. 1). However, the definition of what corporal punishment actually is, is still unclear to some people and parents. In Wendy Walsh's essay, "Spanker and Nonspankers: Where They Get Information on Spanking," she defines corporal punishment as "the use of physical force with the intention of causing a child to experience pain, but not injury, for purposes of correction or control of the child's behavior" (2002, p.1). Dictionary.com defines corporal punishment in less specific terms, saying that corporal punishment is simply "physical punishment, such as spanking, inflicted on a child by an adult in authority". These definitions differ some but not much, and the base message stays the same in both: physical punishment inflicted on a child. There are six types of corporal punishment that parents are allowed to use, according to Walsh: slaps on the hand or leg, spanking on the buttocks, pinching, shaking, hitting on the buttocks with a belt or paddle and slapping in the face (2002). Some people feel that corporal punishment, when used correctly to discipline a child, is appropriate, while others feel that it is never proper. Spanking, or corporal punishment is conducted by 67 percent of parents (Walsh, 2002). Due to this, a question arises about whether or not there are effects (both positive and negative) from corporal punishment on children.
Positive effects of Corporal Punishment While there are many negative effects of corporal punishment on children, there are also a few positive effects. In the essay written by Baumrind, Cowan, and Larzelere, in 2002, as a response to Gershoff's study, they point out

References: Baumrind, D., Cowan, P. A., & Larzelere, R. E. (2002). Ordinary physical punishment: Is it harmful?. American psychology association, 4, 580-589. Campbell, S. (2002). Spare the rod to spare the child?. EBSCO Publishing. Corporal punishment. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved September 19, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/corporal punishment Gershoff, E. T. (2002). Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review. American psychology association, 128(4), 539-579. Walsh, W. (2002). Spankers and nonspankers: Where they get information on spanking. Family relations. 21(1), 81-88.