Running Head: PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN 1

Physical punishment of children

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Introduction

Physical punishment is the act of inflicting deliberate pain and discomfort to a child as a

reaction to undesired behavior by the child. It was acceptable all over the world since it was

considered as an appropriate means of producing behavioral obedience. Over 70% of Americans

agreed in 2012 that sometimes it is required to discipline a child through spanking. Historically,

it has been the right and duty of parents to physically punish misbehaving children as a way of

teaching appropriate conduct. Physical punishment is effective in altering a child's behavior in

the short term, but the long-term implications on the life of a child might be very adverse. This

paper will talk about the effects of physical punishment on a child and why it should not be made

legal.

Discussion.

Physical punishment creates aggressive behaviors in children even if it initially appears to

stop the aggressive behavior, (MacKenzie et al. 2015). Children do not understand the difference

between unacceptable physical punishment like hitting that they are being punished for and the

physical hostility they obtain as punishment. Physical punishment can, therefore, lead to violence

which is exhibited through bullying in schools, (Wang, & Kenny, 2014). Aggressive behavior is

also legitimized in interpersonal relationships since children tend to internalize the social

relations that they experience. If a parent tries to change the conduct of their child by inflicting

pain, then that child is likely to do the same to others as a way of influencing their behaviors.

Physical punishment disturbs children cognitive development. Children who are

physically punished find it challenging to keep up with the cognitive development of their

respective age, (Hecker et al. 2014). Psychology notes that physical punishment ha the
PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN. 3

probability of lowering the IQ of a child. Science reveals that spanking can reduce the grey

matter of a child’s brain which influences learning abilities. Therefore, a child may not be able to

learn as expected in their age group.

Children that experience physical punishment have a high chance of becoming

emotionally impaired. Verbal and physical abuse makes children to be psychologically disturbed.

Physical punishment leads to low self-esteem, attention disorders, brain damage and substance

abuse, (Gershoff, & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016). It can also make a child to have anxiety, poor social

skills, and depression in adulthood. The adulthood with such results would be very difficult and

lonely.

Although physical punishment has adverse effects on the life of a child, disciplining a

child is an essential part of parenthood. Socially acceptable means of punishment ought to be

allowed to ensure proper conduct in children. Adrian Peterson who whipped his four-year-old

using a switch which left cuts on the legs of his son went overboard in punishment. The

government should come up with clear directives of what would be allowed as punishment to a

child, (Mnookin, & Weisberg, 2014). Laws are clear in some states than others, but the universal

consensus is that physical punishment becomes abuse when it leaves bodily harm to a child.

In conclusion, physical punishment should not be legalized in the country although; the

government should come up with means to clarify what punishment should entail. Clarity on the

frequency of punishment and severity should be made clear to the public. Parents can use other

means of disciplining their children which bring about long-term results. By enacting legal

penalties in physical punishment, the future of children would be protected, and proper child

development would be achieved.

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References

Gershoff, E. T., & Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2016). Spanking and child outcomes: Old

controversies and new meta-analyses. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(4), 453.

Hecker, T., Hermenau, K., Isele, D., & Elbert, T. (2014). Corporal punishment and

children's externalizing problems: A cross-sectional study of Tanzanian primary school aged

children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(5), 884-892.

MacKenzie, M. J., Nicklas, E., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Waldfogel, J. (2015). Spanking and

children’s externalizing behavior across the first decade of life: Evidence for transactional

processes. Journal of youth and adolescence, 44(3), 658-669.

Mnookin, R. H., & Weisberg, D. K. (2014). Child Family and State: Problems and

Materials on Children and the Law. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.

Wang, M. T., & Kenny, S. (2014). Parental physical punishment and adolescent

adjustment: bidirectionality and the moderation effects of child ethnicity and parental warmth.

Journal of abnormal child psychology, 42(5), 717-730.