Strauss emphasized his interpretation by saying, "Corporal punishment... was associated with an increased probability of a child assaulting the parent a year and a half later. Thus, while it is true that corporal punishment teaches the child a lesson, it is certainly not the lesson intended by the parents." (Strauss, 2001). The assumption that corporal punishment "taught" the children to assault their parents may not have been valid either. Perhaps these children were already prone to such behavior, and the parents used corporal punishment in an failed attempt to turn the child's behavior around. Another study cited by Strauss correlated corporal punishment with dating violence later, while fourth study used children of mothers seen hitting their children during interviews (Strauss, 2001). Once again the important issues were blurred. Hitting and spanking are not the same thing.
One of the criticisms of corporal punishment is that it "is not used merely as a last resort, but is inflicted regularly and for the smallest of infractions." (Benatar, 1998) Such statements demonstrate once again the lack of focus when talking about corporal punishment. Few people would agree with using corporal punishment for "the smallest of infractions." It would be helpful if researchers would define the issue narrowly so more confidence could be given regarding findings.
It does not make sense for parents to use corporal punishment on teenagers, who are independent enough and big enough to apply corporal punishment back at the parent. While it is known that corporal punishment of teens causes resentment and bitterness,(Author not given, 1966), any teen can tell researchers about the kind of resentment that non-corporal punishment can trigger as well. Teens frequently resent any type of consequences applied to their behavior. In order to talk about corporal punishment sensibly, researchers and others need to talk more precisely. They need to specify the age group for whom they oppose or support corporal punishment. Many parents who would give a toddler a swat on the behind with an open hand for running into the street would not dream of attempting to spank...
One obvious difference between the two is that the 15-year-old is old enough to discuss whatever behavior it is that the parent did not like. Toddlers, on the other hand, need to be taught not to run into the street. It is important, potentially life-saving education.
When corporal punishment is discussed, therefore, many variables need to be considered: the age of the child, the type of infraction, the degree of severity of the infraction, how the punishment is delivered (in anger, with great force, or moderately), and other discipline options available to the parent. If the parent, for instance, has a toddler in the parking lot of a store, an intervention such as time out may not be possible. In the summertime, for instance, making a child sit in an extremely hot car for ten minutes to avoid spanking would be a harsher and more dangerous punishment than a swat on the behind.
In the real world, parents must use the tools they think best to give their children the best guidance they can. If a small child too young to be reasoned with does something that is dangerous, such as darting out into traffic, a mild spanking may communicate to that child better than anything else that he or she must not do that. With a teenager, many other options are available, and attempting to spank a teen would probably cause so much resentment that the intended message would be lost. Parents who make sure the punishment fits the child as well as the crime will probably use punishment well no matter what form it takes.
Bibliography
Author not given. 1966. "Spare the Rod? New Research Challenges Spanking Critics." Family Policy 9(5), October.
Bauman, Laurie J. 1996. "Assessing the causal effect of childhood corporal punishment on adult violent behavior: methodological challenges.(The Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Corporal Punishment: Proceedings of a Conference, February 9 and 10, 1996 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois)." Pediatrics, October.
Benatar, David. 1998. "Corporal Punishment." Social Theory and Practice, June.
Strauss, Murray A. 2001. "New Evidence for the Benefits…
