Research Links Spanking & Antisocial Behavior

Corporal punishment can lead to more bad behavior by children

Posted By: News-Medical in Child Health News
http://www.news-medical.net/
Published: Friday, 10-Sep-2004

A new University of Michigan study that used stronger
statistical controls than previous research lends additional support
against corporal punishment, saying the effects can be detrimental to
children.

Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, an assistant professor in U-M's
School of Social Work and the study's author, used data from three years
(1994, 1996 and 1998) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which
examined the effects of corporal punishment. The analysis attempted to
determine if corporal punishment, which typically involves spanking,
affected children's antisocial behavior in later years.

"Even minimal amounts of spanking can lead to an
increased likelihood in antisocial behavior by children," said
Grogan-Kaylor, whose findings are published in the September issue of
Social Work Research.

In addition, the study found no evidence for differences
in the impact of physical punishment across racial and ethnic groups.

Corporal punishment has been part of a long-standing
debate in how parents discipline their children. Some researchers believe
corporal punishment will lead to compliance with desired ors among
children. Other experts say it will teach children that the use of
physical aggression is normal and appropriate to solve conflicts.

The U-M study analyzed data from more than 1,800
children. Mothers were asked about their children's particular bad
behavior, such as cheating/lying, bullying, breaking things deliberately
or getting in trouble in school. In addition, they were asked the
frequency of times they spanked their child in the past week.

"This study provides further methodologically rigorous
support for the idea that corporal punishment is not an effective or
appropriate disciplinary strategy," he said.



--------------------------------------------------------------



This breaking news sent to you by EPOCH-USA, End Physical
Punishment of Children, with more info available at www.stophitting.com

There you can find information about the 13 countries, 12 in
Europe, that have banned all physical punishment of children:
http://www.stophitting.com/laws/legalReform.php Early this year the
Supreme Court of Canada prohibited all school corporal punishment in that
country, and issued a ruling that prohibits all parental slapping,
spanking or other physical punishment of children under age 3 or over age
12. Children 3 through 12 may not be hit with an object, like a paddle,
belt, spon, etc., nor may they be hit anywhere on the head.

In the U.S. 28 states now prohibit school corporal punishment,
up form just 5 states 20 years ago. Pennsylvania is expected to become
state #29 later this year. There is a continuing, worldwide trend, to end
all physical punishment of children.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

"In addition, they were asked the frequency of times they spanked their
child in the past week."

If that is all that was asked, this study is yet another one in which the
parents whose use of spanking and the threat of spanking in conjunction with
other parenting techniques is most effective are often misclassified as
non-spankers. Under such a methodology, half the parents who average
spanking once every two weeks are misclassified as non-spankers, three
fourths who average spanking once a month are misclassified, and over eleven
twelfths of those who average spanking once every three months are
misclassified as non-spankers. So if a child's knowing that certain
behaviors would result in spankings is almost always enough for the child to
avoid those behaviors, the situation is likely to be misclassified as if
spanking and the threat of spanking were not involved at all.

Even more absurd is the idea that such a study addresses the issue of "even
minimal amounts of spanking." Spanking once a week is certainly less than
spanking two or three times a week, but it is by no means "minimal."

And I see no indication that this study addresses the "lost it" factor,
which Straus and Mouradian's 1998 study indicates is extremely important.
In Straus and Mouradian's study, there was little difference between
outcomes for mothers who spanked but never spanked as a result of having
lost it and those who never spanked at all and, further, the usual pattern
of more spanking leading to worse outcomes did not hold true for the
never-lost-it spankers. The data from Straus and Mouradian's study suggests
a very strong probability that at lest the vast majority of the harm
associated with spanking in other studies is a result of parents who at
least sometimes spank as a result of losing their tempers rather than using
spanking only after deliberately considering how best to handle the
situation, with themselves firmly under control. From what I can tell from
the article, this new study does nothing to address that issue.

(For those not familiar with the 1998 study, the difference between
non-spankers and never-lost-it spankers was barely statistically significant
for some frequencies of spanking and not statistically significant at all
for others. The mothers who spanked most among the never-lost-it spankers
were a group for which the difference was not statistically significant,
although the mothers who spanked did average slightly worse outcomes.
Further, the fact that the groups were self-selected through their behavior
makes it much harder to read real-world significance into small differences
in outcomes because differences might be a result of other differences in
parenting styles that happen to correlate with whether or not parents spank
and/or of differences in children's personalities that influence whether or
not their parents ever resort to spanking them.)

Research makes it pretty clear that parents' spanking as a result of losing
their tempers is a bad thing. And on a more intuitive level, how much
difference is there really between a parent spanking a child because the
child made the parent angry and other cases of people hitting someone who
made them angry? Further, what message does it send to a child when the
child feels like he or she got spanked "because I made Mommy angry" instead
of "because I broke a rule" or "because I disobeyed"?

But virtually none of the research even addresses the issue of whether or
not spanking is harmful when it is used only when the parents have
themselves under control so they can think through how best to handle the
situation. And the data from Straus and Mouradian's 1998 study indicates
that if there is a danger in such an approach at all, it is no more than a
small fraction of the danger inherent in spanking as a result of being angry
and losing control.


"Chris" wrote in message
...

Corporal punishment can lead to more bad behavior by children

Posted By: News-Medical in Child Health News
http://www.news-medical.net/
Published: Friday, 10-Sep-2004

A new University of Michigan study that used stronger
statistical controls than previous research lends additional support
against corporal punishment, saying the effects can be detrimental to
children.

Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, an assistant professor in U-M's
School of Social Work and the study's author, used data from three years
(1994, 1996 and 1998) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which
examined the effects of corporal punishment. The analysis attempted to
determine if corporal punishment, which typically involves spanking,
affected children's antisocial behavior in later years.

"Even minimal amounts of spanking can lead to an
increased likelihood in antisocial behavior by children," said
Grogan-Kaylor, whose findings are published in the September issue of
Social Work Research.

In addition, the study found no evidence for differences
in the impact of physical punishment across racial and ethnic groups.

Corporal punishment has been part of a long-standing
debate in how parents discipline their children. Some researchers believe
corporal punishment will lead to compliance with desired ors among
children. Other experts say it will teach children that the use of
physical aggression is normal and appropriate to solve conflicts.

The U-M study analyzed data from more than 1,800
children. Mothers were asked about their children's particular bad
behavior, such as cheating/lying, bullying, breaking things deliberately
or getting in trouble in school. In addition, they were asked the
frequency of times they spanked their child in the past week.

"This study provides further methodologically rigorous
support for the idea that corporal punishment is not an effective or
appropriate disciplinary strategy," he said.



--------------------------------------------------------------



This breaking news sent to you by EPOCH-USA, End Physical
Punishment of Children, with more info available at www.stophitting.com

There you can find information about the 13 countries, 12 in
Europe, that have banned all physical punishment of children:
http://www.stophitting.com/laws/legalReform.php Early this year the
Supreme Court of Canada prohibited all school corporal punishment in that
country, and issued a ruling that prohibits all parental slapping,
spanking or other physical punishment of children under age 3 or over age
12. Children 3 through 12 may not be hit with an object, like a paddle,
belt, spon, etc., nor may they be hit anywhere on the head.

In the U.S. 28 states now prohibit school corporal punishment,
up form just 5 states 20 years ago. Pennsylvania is expected to become
state #29 later this year. There is a continuing, worldwide trend, to end
all physical punishment of children.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like to see the actual study if you have them. This sounds
very much like the Straus et al (1997) study. I am particularly
interested in whether or not they looked at non-cp alternatives
under the same criteria. As you know, in Straus & Mouradian (1998),
the correlation with ASB was even stronger for non-cp alternatives.

Anyone interested in this subject, can also read:
Larzelere, R. E., Kuhn, B. R., & Johnson, B. (2004). The intervention
selection bias: An underrecognized confound in intervention research.
Psychological Bulletin, 130 (2), 289-303

Doan

On 10 Sep 2004, Chris wrote:


Corporal punishment can lead to more bad behavior by children

Posted By: News-Medical in Child Health News
http://www.news-medical.net/
Published: Friday, 10-Sep-2004

A new University of Michigan study that used stronger
statistical controls than previous research lends additional support
against corporal punishment, saying the effects can be detrimental to
children.

Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, an assistant professor in U-M's
School of Social Work and the study's author, used data from three years
(1994, 1996 and 1998) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which
examined the effects of corporal punishment. The analysis attempted to
determine if corporal punishment, which typically involves spanking,
affected children's antisocial behavior in later years.

"Even minimal amounts of spanking can lead to an
increased likelihood in antisocial behavior by children," said
Grogan-Kaylor, whose findings are published in the September issue of
Social Work Research.

In addition, the study found no evidence for differences
in the impact of physical punishment across racial and ethnic groups.

Corporal punishment has been part of a long-standing
debate in how parents discipline their children. Some researchers believe
corporal punishment will lead to compliance with desired ors among
children. Other experts say it will teach children that the use of
physical aggression is normal and appropriate to solve conflicts.

The U-M study analyzed data from more than 1,800
children. Mothers were asked about their children's particular bad
behavior, such as cheating/lying, bullying, breaking things deliberately
or getting in trouble in school. In addition, they were asked the
frequency of times they spanked their child in the past week.

"This study provides further methodologically rigorous
support for the idea that corporal punishment is not an effective or
appropriate disciplinary strategy," he said.



--------------------------------------------------------------



This breaking news sent to you by EPOCH-USA, End Physical
Punishment of Children, with more info available at www.stophitting.com

There you can find information about the 13 countries, 12 in
Europe, that have banned all physical punishment of children:
http://www.stophitting.com/laws/legalReform.php Early this year the
Supreme Court of Canada prohibited all school corporal punishment in that
country, and issued a ruling that prohibits all parental slapping,
spanking or other physical punishment of children under age 3 or over age
12. Children 3 through 12 may not be hit with an object, like a paddle,
belt, spon, etc., nor may they be hit anywhere on the head.

In the U.S. 28 states now prohibit school corporal punishment,
up form just 5 states 20 years ago. Pennsylvania is expected to become
state #29 later this year. There is a continuing, worldwide trend, to end
all physical punishment of children.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not in favor of corporal punishment myself, but I tend to be
skeptical of such studies because it's so hard to be certain whether
children who are spanked are more likely to display antisocial
behaviors, or whether people with antisocial tendencies are more likely
to do things that get them spanked as children. It's pretty well
established that antisocial behavior starts to exhibit itself at a very
young age.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Doan wrote:
I'd like to see the actual study if you have them. This sounds
very much like the Straus et al (1997) study. I am particularly
interested in whether or not they looked at non-cp alternatives
under the same criteria. As you know, in Straus & Mouradian (1998),
the correlation with ASB was even stronger for non-cp alternatives.

Anyone interested in this subject, can also read:
Larzelere, R. E., Kuhn, B. R., & Johnson, B. (2004). The intervention
selection bias: An underrecognized confound in intervention research.
Psychological Bulletin, 130 (2), 289-303

Doan

On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 14:48:12 -0700, Kalera Stratton
wrote:

I'm not in favor of corporal punishment myself, but I tend to be
skeptical of such studies because it's so hard to be certain whether
children who are spanked are more likely to display antisocial
behaviors, or whether people with antisocial tendencies are more
likely
to do things that get them spanked as children. It's pretty well
established that antisocial behavior starts to exhibit itself at a
very
young age.

And the need to and success of spanking anti social children would be?

-Kalera

As a prisoner. The socially identified anti social population in this
country.

I've known families that don't use CP, that had, among their children,
one that stood out from the rest as being wired, "differently" than
the others. Anti socially different. They discovered that even NON CP
but harshly punitive methods didn't work, and in fact made the
problems worse.

And anti social is a social construct...not a fair judgement of an
individual. They are "different" as often nature, or their parents, or
in concert made them. They are "guilty" of anything they need
punishment for, nor will it control them more than in the short term,
and when they are in the presence of authority...something that
becomes increasingly impossible as they age. .

If a caregiver is to inculcate a conscience, the only true control --
self control -- then they best figure out something other than
punishment as the motivator, especially in those who are already anti
social or showing strong signs of becoming so.

CP makes monsters. 90% of our society is spanked. Do we have a
shortage of monsters thereby, to your knowledge? Or are those monsters
coming from the 10% not spanked, do you think? If so, why so, and what
sources do you have to support that?

Ten Percent Solution, Kane


http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Doan wrote:
I'd like to see the actual study if you have them. This sounds
very much like the Straus et al (1997) study. I am particularly
interested in whether or not they looked at non-cp alternatives
under the same criteria. As you know, in Straus & Mouradian
(1998),
the correlation with ASB was even stronger for non-cp alternatives.

Anyone interested in this subject, can also read:
Larzelere, R. E., Kuhn, B. R., & Johnson, B. (2004). The
intervention
selection bias: An underrecognized confound in intervention
research.
Psychological Bulletin, 130 (2), 289-303

Doan

The issue is actually more complicated than that. Children's emotional
reaction to being spanked can depend significantly on factors such as how
fair or unfair they feel like a spanking was and how they feel about the
person who spanked them. So it could well be that spanking tends to result
in increased antisocial behavior in some types of families and situations
but in reduced antisocial behavior in others. (That is the hypothesis I
currently consider most likely.) Unfortunately, current research hasn't
done much more than scratch the surface of that possibility, but the huge
importance of the "lost it" factor makes it pretty clear that not all
spanking is even close to equal in its effects on children's behavior.

"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
I'm not in favor of corporal punishment myself, but I tend to be
skeptical of such studies because it's so hard to be certain whether
children who are spanked are more likely to display antisocial
behaviors, or whether people with antisocial tendencies are more likely
to do things that get them spanked as children. It's pretty well
established that antisocial behavior starts to exhibit itself at a very
young age.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Doan wrote:
I'd like to see the actual study if you have them. This sounds
very much like the Straus et al (1997) study. I am particularly
interested in whether or not they looked at non-cp alternatives
under the same criteria. As you know, in Straus & Mouradian (1998),
the correlation with ASB was even stronger for non-cp alternatives.

Anyone interested in this subject, can also read:
Larzelere, R. E., Kuhn, B. R., & Johnson, B. (2004). The intervention
selection bias: An underrecognized confound in intervention research.
Psychological Bulletin, 130 (2), 289-303

Doan

That is why it is important to look at all the intervention alternatives.
The few studies that looked at spanking and non-cp alternatives, like
Straus & Mouradian (1998) and Baumrind & Owens (2001), have shown that
the non-cp alternatives are no better than spanking. Parenting style,
not spanking/non-spanking, is a better predictor, IMO.

Doan

On Sat, 11 Sep 2004, Kalera Stratton wrote:

I'm not in favor of corporal punishment myself, but I tend to be
skeptical of such studies because it's so hard to be certain whether
children who are spanked are more likely to display antisocial
behaviors, or whether people with antisocial tendencies are more likely
to do things that get them spanked as children. It's pretty well
established that antisocial behavior starts to exhibit itself at a very
young age.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay


Doan wrote:
I'd like to see the actual study if you have them. This sounds
very much like the Straus et al (1997) study. I am particularly
interested in whether or not they looked at non-cp alternatives
under the same criteria. As you know, in Straus & Mouradian (1998),
the correlation with ASB was even stronger for non-cp alternatives.

Anyone interested in this subject, can also read:
Larzelere, R. E., Kuhn, B. R., & Johnson, B. (2004). The intervention
selection bias: An underrecognized confound in intervention research.
Psychological Bulletin, 130 (2), 289-303

Doan

Kalera Stratton wrote:

I'm not in favor of corporal punishment myself, but I tend to be
skeptical of such studies because it's so hard to be certain whether
children who are spanked are more likely to display antisocial
behaviors, or whether people with antisocial tendencies are more likely
to do things that get them spanked as children. It's pretty well
established that antisocial behavior starts to exhibit itself at a very
young age.
-Kalera
----------------
Why is it that you can't grasp that any assault on people causes them
to become emotionally dominated by seeking revenge, overt AND covert,
for the rest of their lives? With people who have less skill at coming
to understand why they were assaulted, this leads to their predeliction
for violent response when later thwarted even slightly. It's obvious.

Humans do not respond to being hit like rocks do, they don't "move in
the desired direction", they don't "not do what they were punished for",
in fact they lose all trust and respect for their assailant and either
turn around and attack their assailant, or save it till they are bigger
and can prosecute their revenge more successfully!! They become devious,
neglect their other life plans in favor of plotting revenge, and lose
all compassion for their assailant and for ANYONE WHO EVEN RESEMBLES
THEM, physically or philosophically, for the rest of their LIFE!!
Steve

Nathan A. Barclay wrote:

The issue is actually more complicated than that. Children's emotional
reaction to being spanked can depend significantly on factors such as how
fair or unfair they feel like a spanking was and how they feel about the
person who spanked them. So it could well be that spanking tends to result
in increased antisocial behavior in some types of families and situations
but in reduced antisocial behavior in others. (That is the hypothesis I
currently consider most likely.)
----------------------------------
Your notion by itself may be reasonable, but a child who is hit will
invariably see violent response to their non-violent non-compliance
as unfair. A response not in kind is always seen as unfair, and even
so, a response in kind doesn't guarantee that the parent isn't violating
what the child sees as their right if their act was not violence upon
another. If a child assaults another child, then perhaps an assault
by way of punishment would be seen as deserved, but more likely it
will be true that any person, child included, simply does what he
believes is his right, and does not do what he does NOT believe is his
right, unless he is actively seeking revenge. And he only does that if
he believes he has been unfairly abused!

Any tacit out of hand assumption of the right to hit children to "make
them do what you want" will always be seen by the child as unfair and
will bea cause of them seeking future revenge against you forever. If
you want that, you know how to get that now. I have witnessed some
truly gruesome child hatred saved up for decades and then delivered
in one blow. An abused child will give up the rest of their life just
for sufficient satisfying revenge. It takes far less than you even can
imagine to **** off a child that bad, if you dishonor and disrespect
them and their beliefs and feelings and you start early. Hitting is
dishonoring them. It justifies any revenge on their part forever.
Steve