The inhuman act of corporal punishment at home that is discouraged globally by a number of pressure groups and social welfare organizations should be completely banned, and parents should be allowed to spank their children. Physical violence practiced on children also known as corporal punishment has been discouraged globally by a number of pressure groups and social organizations for a number of reasons with serious consequences for violators. In this paper, I will examine the arguments for and the arguments against corporal punishment explaining why I support my thesis.
Firstly, Corporal punishment and violence at homes lower a child’s self esteem. Physical violence practiced on a child may result in long-term psychological effects such as anger issues and abnormal social behavior. A study conducted by Elizabeth Gershoff suggested a strong link between corporal punishment and unusual child behavior such as antisocial behavior and increased aggression. Corporal punishment is also said to have reduced IQ levels. Murray Straus, a member of the UNH, family research lab conducted a survey that established an inverse relationship between the national average IQ level and the percentage of individuals who were spanked or hit as teenagers. From his research, it was clear that the percentage of individuals, who were spanked as teenagers, had lower IQ levels in the future. The Center For Effective Discipline is a non-profit organization that has also indicated that individuals who are violently treated during childhood develop psychological issues such as anger management and depression in the future.
We often come across situations where young children often disobey their parents ignoring the practicality of the decision they make. At this point, Parents generally have two options of how to deal with such a situation. Some parents may choose to physically punish their children and express their frustration. However,
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