Corporal Punishment - Does it work?

At birth humans intuitively know their bodies are sacred. This provides a built-in protection system. When we are startled by an uncomfortable noise or touch, this protective system kicks in. When an infant squirms or throws both arms open and then across the chest, the child is using this protective mechanism.  Observers of child development refer to this self-protective mechanism as the ‘startle response.’ Within a few minutes of birth this startle response is apparent.

Adults need to respect children’s sacred physical boundaries. Lack of respect for a child’s physical boundaries can disturb a child’s protection responses, rendering their intuitive perception of unwanted or uncomfortable touch to be either inoperative or very weak. The worst type of body boundary violation is hitting, spanking, smacking, paddling, whipping, whacking, thumping, switching, or any contact that is considered assault and battery if done to another adult.

“There never was a time when a major social problem was solved by beating a child. And there never will be such a time… For centuries adults have injured children and have lied about it, and other adults have heard those lies and then merely turned away… we must begin putting the blame where it belongs.” . — C. Everett Koop, M.D., Sc.D

Consequences of Corporal Punishment
• Dr. Frank Putnam of the National Institute of Mental Health and Dr. Martin Teicher of Harvard Medical School studied 170 girls, 6-15 years old—half had experienced corporal punishment, half had not—for seven years. The girls who experienced corporal punishment had symptoms such as abnormally high stress hormones, which can kill neurons in brain areas crucial for thinking and memory, and high levels of an antibody that weakens the immune system.

Teicher completed a series of brain studies on 402 children and adults, many of whom experienced corporal punishment. His findings revealed that corporal punishment creates arrested growth of the left hemisphere of the brain which can hamper development of language and logic and arrested growth of the right hemisphere of the brain (the site for emotions) at an abnormally early age.

• Children whose parents use corporal punishment to control antisocial behavior show more antisocial behavior themselves over a long period of time, regardless of race and socioeconomic status, and regardless of whether the mother provides cognitive stimulation and emotional support (Gunnoe & Mariner, 1997; Kazdin, 1987; Patterson, DeBaryshe, & Ramsey, 1989; Straus, Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997).

• A consistent pattern of physical abuse exists that generally starts as corporal punishment, and then gets out of control (Kadushin & Martin, 1981; Straus & Yodanis, 1994).

• Adults who were hit as children are more likely to be depressed or violent themselves (Berkowitz, 1993; Strassberg, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, 1994; Straus, 1994; Straus & Gelles, 1990; Straus & Kantor, 1992).

• The more a child is hit, the more likely it is that the child, when an adult, will hit his or her children, spouse, or friends (Julian & McKenry, 1993; Straus, 1991; Straus, 1994; Straus & Gelles, 1990; Straus & Kantor, 1992; Widom, 1989; Wolfe, 1987).

• Corporal punishment increases the probability of children assaulting the parent in retaliation, especially as they grow older (Brezina, 1998).

• Corporal punishment sends a message to the child that violence is a viable option for solving problems (Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980; Straus, Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997).

• Corporal punishment is degrading, contributes to feelings of helplessness and humiliation, robs a child of self-worth and self-respect, and can lead to withdrawal or aggression (Sternberg et al., 1993; Straus, 1994).

• Corporal punishment erodes trust between a parent and a child, and increases the risk of child abuse; as a discipline measure, it simply does not decrease children’s aggressive or delinquent behaviors (Straus, 1994).

• Children who get spanked regularly are more likely over time to cheat or lie, be disobedient at school, bully others, and show less remorse for wrongdoing (Straus, Sugarman, & Giles-Sims, 1997).

• Corporal punishment adversely affects children’s cognitive development. Children who are spanked perform poorly on school tasks compared to other children (Straus & Mathur, 1995; Straus & Paschall, 1998).

• Spanking has a negative impact on sexual development. Because of the proximity of the sex organs, a child may get sexually aroused when spanked. (Dr. Haim G. Ginott, 1966).

• So long as children are hit by adults, the obsessions with domination and submission, with power and authority, with shame and humiliation, with painful pleasure—all hallmarks of sadomasochism—will remain an enduring consequence of the ordinary violence and  coercion done in the name of discipline—Sadomasochism is not an aberration’ it is inherent in corporal punishment…” (Philip Greven, 1992)
Further reading

• “It is time to stop putting children second in the UK and USA,” Editorial, The Lancet, July 17, 2004.

• “Cradle of civilisation In order to develop a ‘social brain’, babies need loving one-to-one care,” by Sue Gerhardt, The Guardian, July 24, 2004.

• “Aggression and Delinquency,” Excerpt from Spare the Child, 1991, by Philip Greven,.

• Excerpt from “Banning Corporal Punishment: A Constitutional Analysis.” by Deana A. Pollard, American University Law Review, Volume 52, Number 2, December 2002.

• “A brief psychological explanation for pro-spanking sentiment,” Excerpt from “The Need to Punish: Political Consequences of Identifying with the Aggressor”, by Arno Gruen. This article, which appeared in The Journal of Psychohistory, Vol 27, No. 2, Fall 1999, is based on Der Fremde In Uns (The Stranger Within) by Arno Gruen, to be published in Spring of 2000 by Clett-Kotta, Stuttgart.

• “Childhood Abuse Changes the Developing Brain,” by Emma Patten-Hitt, Yahoo! News, December 29, 2000.

• “Punished for Life—Canadian study links spanking to addiction and psychiatric disorders,” Reuters , October 5, 1999,

• “Hidden Scars, Sexual and other abuse may alter a brain region,” by Madhusree Mukerjee,

• “The biology of soul murder: Fear can harm a child’s brain. Is it reversible?” By Shannon Brownlee, U.S. News & World Report, November 11, 1996.

• “Some Antecedents of Felonious and Delinquent Behavior,” by Alan DeWitt Button, Ph.D.

• ”It’s time to change ‘the American way of discipline’” by Arthur Cherry, M.D., FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics NEWS, September 1990.

• ”Parental and home influences on the development of aggression in children,” by Norma and Seymour Feshbach, Excerpt form The Young Child: Reviews of Research, Edited by Willard W. Hartup, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota. Published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, D.C. (1972). Volume 2, pp. 290-292.

• ”The Spirit of Vengance,” Excerpts from The Crime of Punishment by Karl Menninger, Viking Press, 1969.

• Eli Newberger’s letter to The New York Times about Baumrind’s flawed study, August 27, 2001.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach has 25 years experience in Personal and Professional issues. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Psychology, a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work and a Doctorate in Philosophy. She has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, professionals and entrepreneurs. http://www.drdorothy.net.