Does Corporal Punishment of Children Do More Harm Than Good?

According to the requirements of the International organization the legal/regulatory documents of many countries, the child has the right to protection from physical and psychological abuse. Therefore, hitting a child means violating his rights (“Rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, 2018). Many parents call the method of corporal punishment the most “effective”, but, in my opinion, it is only the simplest and even convenient for them, because manifestations of anger are natural for any person. However, the ability to restrain oneself at the right time, calmly explain to the child what it is wrong, switch his attention, show understanding and respect for him/her – all these require serious efforts on the part of parents. The main motivation for choosing this more complex method should be the parents’ awareness of all the harmful effects of physical punishment.

The corporal punishment can be considered as one of the measures of upbringing or “incentive” for learning and diligence. Recent research shows that corporal punishment significantly affects the level of IQ in children. Murray Strauss, a professor of sociology at the New Hampshire University and co-director of the family research laboratory, is known as the leading specialist in corporal punishment (Straus, 2009). This research shows that other ways of correcting behavior are much more effective in replacing corporal punishment in the education of a smarter child. The development of intelligence is also affected by the frequency of corporal punishment. I think, even rare cases of corporal punishment give a significant difference in the mental development of such a child. In my opinion, such an effect of corporal punishment has simple causes. Corporal punishment is stress. Constant corporal punishment creates chronic stress in the child. For example, the kid constantly expects that something bad will happen to him. Such symptoms often accompany children with low IQ.

The systematic fear from a person, whom the child loves and depends entirely on, forms the so-called basic neurosis (Odhayani, Watson & Watson, 2013). It means that the child quickly learns how to fear. That is, the parents have the opportunity to control the behavior of the child, which will pursue child after a lifetime. In my opinion, it affect a decrease in internal self-esteem and the inability to establish close relations with others. In addition, the parents often give their children an example of just such unacceptable behavior and lack of self-control.

The corporal punishment is not recommended because they violate the formation of conscience in the child. As a result of frequent punishments, the child is convinced that he is redeeming his offense (Gershoff, 2013). The child does not develop a healthy sense of guilt, which becomes an internal limiter of pranks. Instead, fear of punishment appears. Excessive guilt is harmful to the normal mental development of the baby. In addition, one more negative side of punishments: the child starts to feel that an aggressive way of dealing with people is the norm and that it is right to be aggressive.

Thus, if the parents cannot do without corporal punishment, then the parents must remember the following notes. No one cannot punish and scold a child when he is sick, eats, after sleeping, at bedtime, during play, during class, immediately after physical or spiritual trauma. The basis for punishment can only be immoral acts: a conscious violation of the interests of the family, refusal to obey a reasonable demand, slovenly attitude to things. All these things are causing hurt or harm to someone in the family. Punishments should not be too frequent, as children get used to them and become indifferent to the actions. Therefore, the parents must try to find another methods for their children.

References

Gershoff, E. (2013). Spanking and Child Development: We Know Enough Now To Stop Hitting Our Children. NCBI. Retrieved 25 April 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768154/

Odhayani, A., Watson, L., & Watson, W. (2013). Behavioural consequences of child abuse. PubMed Central (PMC). Retrieved 25 April 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743691/

Rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (2018). UNICEF. Retrieved 25 April 2018, from https://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30177.html

Straus, M. (2009). Children Who Are Spanked Have Lower IQs, New Research Finds. Scholars.unh.edu. Retrieved 25 April 2018, from https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1204&context=news

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

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freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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