Spanking is a poor way to discipline children. Physical punishment like spanking does little to reduce children's behavior problems and instead leads to more aggression, a new study indicates.
A collaborative study by researchers at the University of Michigan and five other universities looked at practices and perceptions of discipline in six countries. Regardless of the country, researchers found that spanking leads to more child aggression and anxiety.
The study examined the associations of mothers' discipline techniques with children's aggressive and anxious behavior in China, India, Italy, Kenya, Thailand and the Philippines. The study currently appears in the March/April issues of the journal Child Development.
BOTH MOMS & KIDS
Unlike previous studies, this research project collected information from both mothers and their children. For this study there were 292 mothers and their 8-to 12-year-old children.
In total, there were 11 discipline techniques analyzed in six different countries, including: teach about good and bad behavior; get child to apologize; give a time-out; take away privileges; spank; express disappointment; shame; yell/scold; withdraw love for misbehavior; threaten punishment; and promise a treat/privilege.
SAME RESULTS
Despite small variations, there was a strong consistency in the results across countries.
Spanking was particularly singled out as a form of discipline that leads to child aggression and anxiety no matter which country, report researchers.
CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY
This particular study was conducted because so much of previous research about child discipline in the U.S. revolves around physical punishment, says Andy Grogan-Kaylor, associate professor of social work, University of Michigan. This project was meant to examine the different impacts that different forms of discipline has cross-culturally.
Unfortunately, many forms of discipline just don't work or have negative impacts for parents involved in this study, says Grogan-Kaylor.
WHAT DISCIPLINE WORKS?
So what's the answer? What forms of discipline do work?
Discipline that does appear to work on some level involves taking away privileges from the child and taking the time to teach what is good and bad behavior.
"Parenting is an inherently slow process," Grogan-Kaylor says. "Spanking fools us because ...your child's behavior in the short term, the course of a day, is improved. Over time is when aggression and anxiety can build."
It is taking more time with a child, to explain right and wrong, and developing stronger relationships with them in the long-term, that has a greater demonstrable impact on behavior.
SPANK YOURSELF
If you aren't influenced by findings of scientific research, and believe that spanking is a good thing, then you can build a spanking machine (pictured above) and spank yourself.
And, you could contact the Republican National Committee and offer to sell your machine to them so they could save party funds instead of reimbursing costs at Hollywood topless bondage clubs.
But all y'all -- stay away from children!
Source: University of Michigan -- http://www.umich.edu/
UMich News Service -- http://www.ns.umich.edu/
CLICK AND READ "IN TUNISIA EVEN PARENTS ARE BANNED FROM SPANKING -- BRAZIL MAY BE NEXT"
TO READ "SPANKING KIDS ARE STRUCK DUMB LOWER IQ" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "SPANKING IS ILLEGAL: SWEDEN CELEBRATES 30-YEAR-OLD BAN" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "COUNTRIES WHERE SPANKING IS BANNED" CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE.
by Sharon McEachern
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