106-597: Spanking is a form of corporal punishment involving the act of striking, with either the palm of the hand or an implement, the buttocks of a person to cause physical pain. The term spanking broadly encompasses the use of either the hand or implement, though the use of certain implements can also be characterized as other, more specific types of corporal punishment such as belting , caning , paddling and slippering . Some parents spank children in response to undesired behavior. Adults more commonly spank boys than girls both at home and in school. Some countries have outlawed
212-529: A judicial corporal punishment for adults. On the first day of the lunar Chinese new year holidays, a week-long 'Spring Festival', the most important festival for Chinese people all over the world, thousands of Chinese visit the Taoist Dong Lung Gong temple in Tungkang to go through the century-old ritual to get rid of bad luck. Men traditionally receive spankings and women get whipped, with
318-597: A bare hand, although, not uncommonly, various objects are used to spank children, such as a hairbrush or wooden spoon. Historically, adults have spanked boys more than girls. In the United States, adults commonly spank toddlers the most. The main reasons parents give for spanking their children are to make children more compliant and to promote better behavior, especially to put a stop to their children's apparent aggressive behaviors. However, research has shown that spanking (or any other form of corporal punishment)
424-615: A certain way in front of white people, as well as to expect the physical, sexual, and emotional violence and dehumanizing actions that typically came with slavery. While the Emancipation Proclamation ended the institution of slavery, in the south many expected former slaves to conform to the prior expectations of deference and demeanor. Patton states that black parents continued to use corporal punishment with their children out of fear that doing otherwise would put them and their family at risk of violence and discrimination,
530-407: A child for a few minutes and is intended to give an over-excited child time to calm down. Alternatively, time-outs have been recommended as a time for parents to separate feelings of anger toward the child for their behavior and to develop a plan for discipline. If an individual decides to use the time-out with a child as a discipline strategy, the individual must be unemotional and consistent with
636-417: A child perceives themselves. The child will feel important if the child feels well liked and loved by a person. Other important aspects are reasonable and age-appropriate expectations, feeding healthy foods and providing enough rest, giving clear instructions which may need to be repeated, looking for the causes of any misbehavior and making adjustments, and building routines. Children are helped by knowing what
742-417: A child's behavior is shaped by "democratic interaction" and by deepening parent-child communication. The reasoning behind it is that while punitive measures may stop the problem behavior in the short term, by themselves they do not provide a learning opportunity that allows children the autonomy to change their own behavior. Punishments such as time-outs may be seen as banishment and humiliation. Consequences as
848-481: A deterrent to other would-be offenders. Meanwhile, early writers on education, such as Roger Ascham , complained of the arbitrary manner in which children were punished. Peter Newell writes that perhaps the most influential writer on the subject was the English philosopher John Locke , whose Some Thoughts Concerning Education explicitly criticised the central role of corporal punishment in education. Locke's work
954-552: A form of parenting that she argues is still common today. The Book of Proverbs mentions the importance of disciplining children, as opposed to leaving them neglected or unruly, in several verses. Interpretation of these verses varies, as do many passages from the Bible, from literal to metaphorical. The most often paraphrased is from Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." ( King James Version .) Other passages that mention
1060-543: A form of punishment are not recommended, but natural consequences are considered to be possibly worthwhile learning experiences provided there is no risk of lasting harm. Positive discipline is both non-violent discipline and non-punitive discipline. Criticizing, discouraging, creating obstacles and barriers, blaming, shaming, using sarcastic or cruel humor, or using physical punishment are some negative disciplinary methods used with young children. Any parent may occasionally do any of these things, but doing them more than once in
1166-443: A peer by an authority figure in order to guide their moral development and social awareness. Many Western countries place an emphasis on individualism. These societies often value independent growth and self esteem. Disciplining a child by contrasting them to better-behaved children is contrary to the individualistic societies value of nurturing children's self-esteem. These children of individualistic societies are more likely to feel
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#17327915890151272-424: A place in heaven. In one incident in early 14th-century London, neighbors intervened when a cook and clerk were beating a boy carrying water. A scuffle ensued and the child's tormentors were subdued. The neighbors did not even know the boy, but they firmly stood up for him even when they were physically attacked, and they stood by their actions when the cook and clerk later sued for damages. During colonial times in
1378-617: A prison term. The Singaporean practice of caning became much discussed around the world in 1994 when American teenager Michael P. Fay received four strokes of the cane for vandalism. Judicial caning and whipping are also used in Aceh Province in Indonesia. A number of other countries with an Islamic legal system, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iran, Brunei, Sudan, and some northern states in Nigeria, employ judicial whipping for
1484-573: A range of offences. In April 2020, the Saudi Supreme Court ended the flogging punishment from its court system, and replaced it with jail time or fines. As of 2009 , some regions of Pakistan are experiencing a breakdown of law and government, leading to a reintroduction of corporal punishment by ad hoc Islamicist courts. As well as corporal punishment, some Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran use other kinds of physical penalties such as amputation or mutilation . However,
1590-543: A reputation for their cruel use of such punishments; Sparta , in particular, used them as part of a disciplinary regime which was designed to increase willpower and physical strength. Although the Spartan example was extreme, corporal punishment was possibly the most frequent type of punishment. In the Roman Empire, the maximum penalty which a Roman citizen could receive under the law was 40 "lashes" or 40 "strokes" with
1696-418: A rule stating which instances of a behavior will be reinforced. In some case, a behavior might be reinforced every time it occurs. Sometimes, a behavior might not be reinforced at all. Either positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement might be used, depending on the situation. In both cases, the goal of reinforcement is always to strengthen the behavior and increase the likelihood that it will occur again in
1802-550: A sense of guilt when shame is used as a form of behavior correction. For the collectivist societies, shaming corresponds with the value of promoting self improvement without negatively affecting self esteem. There are different parenting styles which parents use to discipline their children. Four types have been identified: authoritative parents, authoritarian parents, indulgent parents, and indifferent parents. Authoritative parents are parents who use warmth, firm control, and rational, issue-oriented discipline, in which emphasis
1908-488: A spanking is invariably administered to the bottom, a "smacking" is less specific and may refer to slapping the child's hands, arms or legs as well as its bottom. Parents commonly spank their children as a form of corporal punishment in the United States ; however, support for this practice appears to be declining amongst U.S. parents. Spanking is typically done with one or more slaps on the child's buttocks with
2014-586: A state dates back to Poland in 1783. However, its prohibition in all spheres of life – in homes, schools, the penal system and alternative care settings – occurred first in 1966 in Sweden. The 1979 Swedish Parental Code reads: "Children are entitled to care, security and a good upbringing. Children are to be treated with respect for their person and individuality and may not be subjected to corporal punishment or any other humiliating treatment." As of 2021 , corporal punishment of children by parents (or other adults)
2120-581: A strict schedule and admonished parents not to play with their babies. John B. Watson 's 1924 Behaviorism argued that parents could train malleable children by rewarding good behavior and punishing bad, and by following precise schedules for food, sleep, and other bodily functions. Although such principles began to be rejected as early as the 1930s, they were firmly renounced in the 1946 best-seller Baby and Child Care , by pediatrician Benjamin Spock , which told parents to trust their own instincts and to view
2226-413: A while may lead to low self-esteem becoming a permanent part of the child's personality. Authors in this field include Aletha Solter , Alfie Kohn , Pam Leo, Haim Ginott , Thomas Gordon , Lawrence J. Cohen , and John Gottman . In the past, harsh discipline was the norm for families in society. However, research by psychologists has brought about new forms of effective discipline. Positive discipline
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#17327915890152332-468: A whip which was applied to the back and shoulders, or 40 lashes or strokes with the " fasces " (similar to a birch rod, but consisting of 8–10 lengths of willow rather than birch) which were applied to the buttocks. Such punishments could draw blood, and they were frequently inflicted in public. Quintilian (c. 35 – c. 100) voiced some opposition to the use of corporal punishment. According to Wilson, "probably no more lucid indictment of it has been made in
2438-554: Is a form of discipline and behavior modification . Children raised in different cultures experience discipline and shame in various ways. This generally depends on whether the society values individualism or collectivism . Historical research suggests that there has been a great deal of individual variation in methods of discipline over time. Nicholas Orme of the University of Exeter argues that children in medieval times were treated differently from adults in legal matters, and
2544-402: Is a jocular tradition that anyone who succeeds in climbing to the top of Mount Triglav receives a spanking or birching. In Poland there is a tradition named Pasowanie , which is celebrated on the 18th birthday. The birthday person receives eighteen smacks with the belt from the guests at the birthday party. Birthday spanking is a tradition within some parts of the United States. Within
2650-400: Is a topic that draws from a wide range of interested fields, such as parenting , the professional practice of behavior analysis , developmental psychology , social work , and various religious perspectives . In recent years, advances in the understanding of attachment parenting have provided a new background of theoretical understanding and advanced clinical and practical understanding of
2756-484: Is agreed that these are fitting rather for slaves than for the free-born; for so they grow numb and shudder at their tasks, partly from the pain of the blows, partly from the degradation. In Medieval Europe , the Byzantine Empire blinded and removed the noses of some criminals and rival emperors. Their belief that the emperor should be physically ideal meant that such disfigurement notionally disqualified
2862-458: Is an approach to child-rearing that does not use any form of punishment. It is about loving guidance, and requires parents to have a strong relationship with their child so that the child responds to gentle guidance as opposed to threats and punishment. According to Dr. Laura Markham, the most effective discipline strategy is to make sure your child wants to please you. Non-punitive discipline also excludes systems of "manipulative" rewards. Instead,
2968-781: Is associated with the opposite effect. When adults physically punish children, the children tend to obey parents less with time and develop more aggressive behaviors, including toward other children. This increase in aggressive behavior appears to reflect the child's perception that hitting is the way to deal with anger and frustration. There are also many adverse physical, mental, and emotional effects correlated with spanking and other forms of corporal punishment, including various physical injuries , increased anxiety , depression , and antisocial behavior . Adults who were spanked during their childhood are more likely to abuse their children and spouse. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), and
3074-403: Is based on minimizing the child's frustrations and misbehavior rather than giving punishments. The main focus in this method is the "Golden Rule", treat others the way you want to be treated. Parents follow this when disciplining their children because they believe that their point will reach the children more effectively rather than traditional discipline. The foundation of this style of discipline
3180-425: Is counter-productive because parental attention (including negative attention) tends to reinforce behavior. While punishments may be of limited value in consistently influencing rule-related behavior, non-punitive discipline techniques have been found to have greater impact on children who have begun to master their native language. Non-punitive discipline (also known as empathic discipline and positive discipline )
3286-500: Is defined as imparting knowledge and skill, in other words, to teach. In its most general sense, discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a disciple. To discipline means to instruct a person to follow a particular code of conduct. Discipline is used by parents to teach their children about expectations, guidelines and principles. Child discipline can involve rewards and punishments to teach self-control, increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors. While
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3392-493: Is encouraging children to feel good about themselves and building the parent's relationship with the child so the child wants to please the parent. In traditional discipline, parents would instill fear in their child by using shame and humiliation to get their point across. In positive discipline the parents avoid negative treatment and focus on the importance of communication and showing unconditional love. Feeling loved, important and well liked has positive and negative effects on how
3498-426: Is happening in their lives. Having some predictability about their day without necessarily being regimental may help reduce frustration and misbehavior. B. F. Skinner argued that simply giving the child spontaneous expressions of appreciation or acknowledgement when they are not misbehaving will act as a reinforcer for good behavior. Focusing on good behavior versus bad behavior will encourage appropriate behavior in
3604-404: Is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (Proverbs 19:18) Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it from him. (Proverbs 22:15) Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with a rod, thou shalt deliver his soul from hell. (Proverbs 23:13–14) (Note: it has been debated among scholars as to whether what is encouraged here
3710-548: Is intended to cause physical pain to a person. When it is inflicted on minors , especially in home and school settings, its methods may include spanking or paddling . When it is inflicted on adults, it may be inflicted on prisoners and slaves , and can involve methods such as whipping with a belt or a horsewhip . Physical punishments for crimes or injuries, including floggings , brandings and even mutilations , were practised in most civilizations since ancient times. They have increasingly been viewed as inhumane since
3816-402: Is legal, but restricted (e.g. blows to the head are outlawed, implements may not be used, only children within a certain age range may be spanked). In all states of the United States and most African and Asian nations, corporal punishment by parents is legal. It is also legal to use certain implements (e.g. a belt or a paddle). In Canada, spanking by parents or legal guardians (but nobody else)
3922-479: Is legal, with certain restrictions: the child must be between the ages of 2–12, and no implement other than an open, bare hand may be used (belts, paddles, etc. are prohibited). It is also illegal to strike the head when disciplining a child. In the UK (except Scotland and Wales), spanking or smacking is legal, but it must not cause an injury amounting to actual bodily harm (any injury such as visible bruising, breaking of
4028-548: Is outlawed altogether in 63 nations (including the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo) and 3 constituent nations. For a more detailed overview of the global use and prohibition of the corporal punishment of children, see the following table. Domestic corporal punishment (i.e. the punishment of children by their parents) is often referred to colloquially as " spanking ", "smacking", or "slapping". It has been outlawed in an increasing number of countries, starting with Sweden in 1979. In some other countries, corporal punishment
4134-512: Is perceived among parents and students in India. Medical professionals have urged putting an end to the practice, noting the danger of injury to children's hands especially. Around 33 countries in the world still retain judicial corporal punishment, including a number of former British territories such as Botswana, Malaysia, Singapore and Tanzania. In Singapore, for certain specified offences, males are routinely sentenced to caning in addition to
4240-471: Is placed on the development of self-direction. They place a high value on the development of autonomy and self-direction, but assume the ultimate responsibility for their child's behavior. Authoritarian parents are parents who use punitive, absolute, and forceful discipline, and who place a premium on obedience and conformity. These parents believe it is their responsibility to provide for their children and that their children have little to no right to tell
4346-549: Is still allowed in schools, there may be restrictions; for example, school caning in Singapore and Malaysia is, in theory, permitted for boys only. In India and many other countries, corporal punishment has technically been abolished by law. However, corporal punishment continues to be practised on boys and girls in many schools around the world. Cultural perceptions of corporal punishment have rarely been studied and researched. One study carried out discusses how corporal punishment
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4452-403: Is the corporeal punishment of a "child" or a "young man". The word translated "child" in most cases in the Bible refers to a young man rather than a child.) Robert McCole Wilson argues that, "Probably this attitude comes, at least in part, from the desire in the patriarchal society for the elder to maintain his authority, where that authority was the main agent for social stability. But these are
4558-577: Is the practice of putting hot sauce in the child's mouth, which can be considered a form of child abuse . Some pediatricians, psychologists and experts on childcare strongly recommend against this practice. Former child star Lisa Whelchel advocates hot saucing in her parenting book Creative Correction . In the book, Whelchel claims the practice is more effective and humane than traditional corporal punishments , such as spanking ; she repeated this opinion when promoting her book on Good Morning America , where she said in raising her own child she found
4664-936: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , the American Psychoanalytic Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Society for Adolescent Medicine , the American Psychological Association , the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health , the Royal College of Psychiatrists , the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Australian Psychological Society , as well as
4770-773: The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) all recommend that no child should be spanked and instead favor the use of effective, healthy forms of discipline. Additionally, the AAP recommends that primary care providers (e.g., pediatricians and family medicine physicians ) begin to discuss parents' discipline methods no later than nine months of age and consider initiating such discussions by age 3–4 months. By eight months of age, 5% of parents report spanking and 5% report starting to spank by age three months. The AAP also recommends that pediatricians discuss effective discipline strategies and counsel parents about
4876-652: The Western world developed in the 20th century, but the issue of corporal punishment was not addressed generally before mid-century. Years with particular significance to the prohibition of corporal punishment of children are emphasised. Corporal punishment of minors in the United States 67 countries, most of them in Europe and Latin America , have prohibited any corporal punishment of children. The earliest recorded attempt to prohibit corporal punishment of children by
4982-433: The Western world , the corporal punishment of children has traditionally been used by adults in authority roles. Beating one's son as a form of punishment is even recommended in the book of Proverbs : He that spareth the rod, hateth his son; but he that loveth him, chasteneth him betimes. (Proverbs 13:24) A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. (Proverbs 18:6) Chasten thy son while there
5088-484: The age of majority are sometimes spanked by school officials. A number of medical, pediatric or psychological societies have issued statements opposing all forms of corporal punishment in schools, citing such outcomes as poorer academic achievements, increases in antisocial behaviors, injuries to students, and an unwelcoming learning environment. They include the American Medical Association ,
5194-573: The era of slavery in the United States . Europeans would use physical discipline on their children, whereas she states that it was uncommon in West African and Indigenous North American societies and only became more prevalent as their lives grew more difficult due to slavery and genocide. As such, Patton argues that traditional parenting styles were not preserved due to the "violent suppression of West African cultural practices". Parents were expected and pressured to teach their children to behave in
5300-750: The 'rod' are Proverbs 23:14, "Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell," and Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." Although the Bible's lessons have been paraphrased for hundreds of years, the modern phrase, "Spare the rod and spoil the child," was coined by Samuel Butler , in Hudibras , a mock heroic narrative poem published in 1663. The Contemporary English Version of Proverbs 13:24 is: 'If you love your children you will correct them; if you don't love them, you won't correct them'. The primary guidelines followed by medieval parents in training their children were from
5406-659: The 1960s. The Swedish law does not actually lay down any legal punishment for smacking but requires social workers to support families with problems. A 2013 study by Murray A. Straus at the University of New Hampshire found that children across numerous cultures who were spanked committed more crimes as adults than children who were not spanked, regardless of the quality of their relationship to their parents. Even as corporal punishment became increasingly controversial in North America, Britain, Australia and much of
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#17327915890155512-402: The Bible. Scolding was considered ineffectual, and cursing a child was a terrible thing. In general, the use of corporal punishment was as a disciplinary action taken to shape behavior, not a pervasive dispensing of beatings for no reason. Corporal punishment was undoubtedly the norm. The medieval world was a dangerous place, and it could take harsh measures to prepare a child to live in it. Pain
5618-532: The UK government stated there were no plans to change the law on smacking in England and said it would observe the impact of legal amendments in Scotland and Wales. Corporal punishment in schools has been outlawed in many countries. It often involves striking the student on the buttocks or the palm of the hand with an implement (e.g. a rattan cane or a spanking paddle ). In countries where corporal punishment
5724-777: The UK, the traditional right of a husband to inflict moderate corporal punishment on his wife in order to keep her "within the bounds of duty" was similarly removed in 1891. See Domestic violence for more information. In the United Kingdom, the use of judicial corporal punishment declined during the first half of the twentieth century and it was abolished altogether in the Criminal Justice Act, 1948 (zi & z2 GEo. 6. CH. 58.) , whereby whipping and flogging were outlawed except for use in very serious internal prison discipline cases, while most other European countries had abolished it earlier. Meanwhile, in many schools,
5830-541: The United States in 1977 held that the paddling of school students was not per se unlawful. However, 33 states have now banned paddling in public schools. It is still common in some schools in the South, and more than 167,000 students were paddled in the 2011–2012 school year in American public schools. Students can be physically punished from kindergarten to the end of high school, meaning that even adults who have reached
5936-479: The United States' National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of Secondary School Principals . Most spanking performed between adults in the 21st century within the Western world is erotic spanking . Within the early 20th century, American men spanking their wives and girlfriends was often seen as an acceptable form of domestic discipline. It was a common trope in American films, from
6042-951: The United States, parents were able to provide enjoyments for their children in the form of toys, according to David Robinson , writer for the Colonial Williamsburg Journal . Robinson notes that even the Puritans permitted their young children to play freely. Older children were expected to swiftly adopt adult chores and accountabilities, to meet the strict necessities of daily life. Harsh punishments for minor infractions were common. Beatings and other forms of corporal punishment occurred regularly; one legislator even suggested capital punishment for children's misbehavior. According to Stacey Patton , corporal punishment in African American families has its roots in punishment meted out by parents and family members during
6148-496: The authorities were as troubled about violence to children as they were to adults. In his article, Childhood in Medieval England , he states, "Corporal punishment was in use throughout society and probably also in homes, although social commentators criticized parents for indulgence towards children rather than for harsh discipline." Salvation was the main goal of discipline, and parents were driven to ensure their children
6254-474: The basis of a large body of research. However, several anti-discipline experts do not recommend the use of any form of punishment , including time-outs. These authors include Thomas Gordon , Alfie Kohn , and Aletha Solter . Another common method of discipline used for, usually, preteens and teenagers, is restricting the child's freedom of movement, optionally compounded by restricting activities. Examples of restriction of movement would be confinement to
6360-437: The child as a reasonable, friendly human being. Dr. Spock revised his first edition to urge more parent-centered discipline in 1957, but critics blamed his popular book for its permissive attitude during the youth rebellions of the 1960s and 1970s. In the last half of the century, Parent Management Training was developed and found to be effective in reducing child disruptive behavior in randomized controlled trials. Following
6466-456: The child would not cause harm to others' property. Researchers who have lived among the Parakanã and Ju/'hoansi people, as well as some Aboriginal Australians , have written about the absence of the physical punishment of children in those cultures. Wilson writes: Probably the only generalization that can be made about the use of physical punishment among primitive tribes is that there
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#17327915890156572-722: The child's happiness. They behave in an accepting, benign, and somewhat more passive way in matters of discipline. Indifferent parents are parents who are characterized by low levels of both responsiveness and demandingness. They try to do whatever is necessary to minimize the time and energy they must devote to interacting with their child. In extreme cases, indifferent parents may be neglectful. They ask very little of their children. For instance, they rarely assign their children chores. They tend to be relatively uninvolved in their children's lives. They believe their children should live their own lives, as free of parental control as possible. Connected parents are parents who want to improve
6678-623: The child's head or torso instead of the buttocks or limbs. Attitudes have changed in recent years, and legislation in some countries, particularly in continental Europe, reflect an increased skepticism toward corporal punishment. As of December 2017, domestic corporal punishment has been outlawed in 56 countries around the world, most of them in Europe and Latin America, beginning with Sweden in 1966. Official figures show that just 10 percent of Swedish children had been spanked or otherwise struck by their parents by 2010, compared to more than 90 percent in
6784-418: The child, Listen to what your child is saying and Mirror their emotion back to show understanding. Non-physical discipline consists of both punitive and non-punitive methods but does not include any forms of corporal punishment such as hitting or spanking. Thus, no single method is considered to be for exclusive use. Non-Physical discipline is used in the concerted cultivation style of parenting that comes from
6890-482: The development of humanitarianism ideals after the Enlightenment , especially in the Western world . By the late 20th century, corporal punishment was eliminated from the legal systems of most developed countries . The legality of corporal punishment in various settings differs by jurisdiction. Internationally, the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries saw the application of human rights law to
6996-429: The earliest days up through the 1960s, and was often used to allude to romance between the man and woman. In the early 21st century, adherents of a small subculture known as Christian domestic discipline have on a literalist interpretation of the Bible justified spanking as a form of acceptable punishment of women by their husbands. Critics describe such practices as a form of domestic abuse . A few countries have
7102-571: The effectiveness and outcome of parenting methods. There has been debate in recent years over the use of corporal punishment for children in general, and increased attention to the concept of "positive parenting" where desirable behavior is encouraged and rewarded. The goal of positive discipline is to teach, train and guide children so that they learn, practice self-control and develop the ability to manage their emotions, and make desired choices regarding their personal behavior. Cultural differences exist among many forms of child discipline. Shaming
7208-426: The frequency or severity of spanking or use an object. Parents may spank less – or not at all – if they have learned effective discipline techniques, since many parents view spanking as a method of last resort to discipline their children. There are many alternatives to spanking and other forms of corporal punishment: Corporal punishment, usually delivered with an implement (such as a paddle or cane) rather than with
7314-508: The future. In real-world settings, behaviors are probably not going to be reinforced each and every time they occur. For situations where you are purposely trying to train and reinforce an action, such as in the classroom, in sports or in animal training, you might opt to follow a specific reinforcement schedule. As you'll see below, some schedules are best suited to certain types of training situations. In some cases, training might call for starting out with one schedule and switching to another once
7420-401: The given situation. According to Skinner, past behavior that is reinforced with praise is likely to repeat in the same or similar situation. In operant conditioning, schedules of reinforcement are an important component of the learning process. When and how often we reinforce a behavior can have a dramatic impact on the strength and rate of the response. A schedule of reinforcement is basically
7526-463: The ineffectiveness of spanking and the risks of harmful effects associated with the practice to minimize harm to children and guide parents. Although parents and other advocates of spanking often claim that spanking is necessary to promote child discipline , studies have shown that parents tend to apply physical punishment inconsistently and tend to spank more often when they are angry or under stress . The use of corporal punishment by parents increases
7632-507: The infliction of corporal punishment in government institutions such as schools, prisons and reformatories. By the First World War, parents' complaints about disciplinary excesses in England had died down, and corporal punishment was established as an expected form of school discipline. In the 1870s, courts in the United States overruled the common-law principle that a husband had the right to "physically chastise an errant wife". In
7738-452: The likelihood that children will suffer physical abuse , and most documented cases of physical abuse in Canada and the United States begin as disciplinary spankings. If a child is frequently spanked, this form of corporal punishment tends to become less effective at modifying behavior over time (also known as extinction). In response to decreased effectiveness of spanking, some parents increase
7844-505: The meaning and therefore the consequences of physical discipline...". Child discipline is often affected by cultural differences. Many Eastern countries typically emphasize beliefs of collectivism in which social conformity and the interests of the group are valued above the individual. Families that promote collectivism will frequently employ tactics of shaming in the form of social comparisons and guilt induction in order to modify behavior. A child may have their behavior compared to that of
7950-455: The middle and upper class. Concerted cultivation is the method of parenting that includes heavy parental involvement, and use reasoning and bargaining as disciplinary methods. A common method of child discipline is sending the child away from the family or group after misbehavior. Children may be told to stand in the corner ("corner time") or may be sent to their rooms for a period of time (room time). A time-out involves isolating or separating
8056-447: The more severe form of violence. Corporal punishment is associated with physical injury and abuse, it erodes parent-child relationships, reduces cognitive abilities and IQ scores, leads to mental health problems including depression and anxiety, and it increases adult aggression and anti-social behaviors. Child discipline Child discipline is the methods used to prevent future unwanted behaviour in children. The word discipline
8162-454: The number of strokes to be administered (always lightly) by the temple staff being decided in either case by the god Wang Ye and by burning incense and tossing two pieces of wood, after which all go home happily, believing their luck will improve. On Easter Monday , there is a Slavic tradition of spanking girls and young ladies with woven willow switches (Czech: pomlázka ; Slovak: korbáč ) and dousing them with water. In Slovenia , there
8268-510: The open hand, used to be a common form of school discipline in many countries, but it is now banned in most of the Western World. Corporal punishment, such as caning, remains a common form of discipline in schools in several Asian and African countries, even in countries in which this practice has been deemed illegal such as India and South Africa . In these cultures it is referred to as "caning" and not "spanking." The Supreme Court of
8374-412: The parent how best to do this. Adults are expected to know from experience what is really in the child's best interest and so adult views are allowed to take precedence over child desires. Children are perceived to know what they want but not necessarily what is best for them. Indulgent parents are parents who are characterized by responsiveness but low demandingness, and who are mainly concerned with
8480-533: The permissive trend of the 1960s and early 1970s, American evangelical Christian James Dobson sought the return of a more conservative society and advocated spanking of children up to age eight. Dobson's position is controversial. As early as 1985, The New York Times stated that "most child-care experts today disapprove of physical punishment." Corporal punishment of minors in the United States In many cultures, parents have historically had
8586-449: The practice is believed by some to come from Southern United States culture . It is well known among pediatricians, psychologists and child welfare professionals. If a child is allergic to any of the ingredients in a hot sauce, it can cause swelling of the child's tongue and esophagus, presenting a choking hazard. Scolding involves reproving or criticizing a child's negative behavior and/or actions. Some research suggests that scolding
8692-452: The purpose of child discipline is to develop and entrench desirable social habits in children, the ultimate goal is to foster particular judgement and morals so the child develops and maintains self-discipline throughout the rest of their life. Because the values, beliefs, education, customs and cultures of people vary so widely, along with the age and temperament of the child, methods of child discipline also vary widely. Child discipline
8798-652: The question of corporal punishment in a number of contexts: In many Western countries, medical and human rights organizations oppose the corporal punishment of children. Campaigns against corporal punishment have aimed to bring about legal reforms in order to ban the use of corporal punishment against minors in homes and schools. Author Jared Diamond writes that hunter-gatherer societies have tended to use little corporal punishment whereas agricultural and industrial societies tend to use progressively more of it. Diamond suggests this may be because hunter-gatherers tend to have few valuable physical possessions, and misbehavior of
8904-572: The recipient from office. (The second reign of Justinian the Slit-nosed was the notable exception.) Elsewhere, corporal punishment was encouraged by the attitudes of the Catholic church towards the human body, flagellation being a common means of self-discipline. This had an influence on the use of corporal punishment in schools, as educational establishments were closely attached to the church during this period. Nevertheless, corporal punishment
9010-604: The rest of the English-speaking world, limited corporal punishment of children by their parents remained lawful in all 50 states of the United States . It was not until 2012 that Delaware became the first state to pass a statute defining "physical injury" to a child to include "any impairment of physical condition or pain." A number of authors have emphasized the importance of cultural differences in assessing disciplinary methods. Clinical psychologist Diana Baumrind argues that "The cultural context critically determines
9116-594: The right to spank their children. A 2006 retrospective study in New Zealand, showed that physical punishment of children remained quite common in the 1970s and 1980s, with 80% of the sample reporting some kind of corporal punishment from parents, at some time during childhood. Among this sample, 29% reported being hit with an empty hand. However 45% were hit with an object, and 6% were subjected to serious physical abuse. The study noted that abusive physical punishment tended to be given by fathers and often involved striking
9222-478: The spanking of children in every setting, including homes, schools, and penal institutions , while others permit it when done by a parent or guardian . In American English , dictionaries define spanking as being administered with either the open hand or an implement such as a paddle . Thus, the standard form of corporal punishment in US schools (use of a paddle) is often referred to as a spanking . In North America ,
9328-492: The strong body and habits of mind that would allow the capacity of reason to develop, and that parents could reward good behavior with their esteem and punish bad behavior with disgrace – the withdrawal of parental approval and affection - as opposed to beatings. In the early twentieth century, child-rearing experts abandoned a romantic view of childhood and advocated formation of proper habits to discipline children. A 1914 U.S. Children's Bureau pamphlet, Infant Care , urged
9434-441: The succeeding two thousand years". By that boys should suffer corporal punishment, though it is received by custom, and Chrysippus makes no objection to it, I by no means approve; first, because it is a disgrace, and a punishment fit for slaves, and in reality (as will be evident if you imagine the age change) an affront; secondly, because, if a boy's disposition be so abject as not to be amended by reproof, he will be hardened, like
9540-478: The technique successful where other measures had failed. Whelchel's book recommends using only "tiny" amounts of hot sauce, and lists alternatives such as lemon juice or vinegar . The practice had also been suggested in a 2001 article in Today's Christian Woman magazine, where only "a drop" is suggested, and alternative substances are listed. While these publications are credited with popularizing hot saucing,
9646-417: The term "corporal punishment" has since the 19th century usually meant caning , flagellation or bastinado rather than those other types of physical penalty. In some countries, foot whipping ( bastinado ) is still practised on prisoners. According to a study headed by Harvard researchers, corporal punishment like spanking could affect the brain development of children. These effects are similar to
9752-418: The tradition an individual (commonly, though not exclusively, a child) upon their birthday receives, typically corresponding to their age, a number of spanks. Characteristically these spankings are playful, and are administered in such a fashion so the recipient receives no or only minor discomfort. Notes Corporal punishment A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which
9858-530: The undesired behavior. Along with taking into consideration the child's temperament, professionals have recommended that the length of the time-out also should depend on the age of the child. For example, the time-out should last one minute per year of the child's age, so if the child is five years old, the time-out should go no longer than five minutes. However, research results have suggested that this does not improve its effectiveness. Time-outs have been recommended by researchers and professional organizations on
9964-525: The use of the cane, paddle or tawse remained commonplace in the UK and the United States until the 1980s. In rural areas of the Southern United States, and in several other countries, it still is: see School corporal punishment . Key developments related to corporal punishment occurred in the late 20th century. Years with particular significance to the prohibition of corporal punishment are emphasised. The notion of children's rights in
10070-452: The way in which they connect with their children using an empathetic approach to challenging or even tumultuous relationships. Using the 'CALM' technique, by Jennifer Kolari, parents recognize the importance of empathy and aspire to build capacity in their children in hopes of them becoming confident and emotionally resilient. The CALM acronym stands for: Connect emotionally, match the Affect of
10176-703: The whole skin, etc.). In addition, in Scotland, since October 2003, it has been illegal to use any implements or to strike the head when disciplining a child, and it is also prohibited to use corporal punishment towards children under the age of 3 years. In 2019, Scotland enacted a ban on corporal punishment, which went into effect in 2020. Wales also enacted a ban in 2020, which has gone into effect in 2022. In Pakistan, Section 89 of Pakistan Penal Code allows corporal punishment. In 2024, children's doctors urged ministers to ban smacking children in England and Northern Ireland as their report warned that children suffer physically and mentally after being hit in their home. However,
10282-559: The word "spanking" has often been used as a synonym for an official paddling in school, and sometimes even as a euphemism for the formal corporal punishment of adults in an institution. In British English , most dictionaries define "spanking" as being given only with the open hand. In the United Kingdom , Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, the word "smacking" is generally used in preference to "spanking" when describing striking with an open hand, rather than with an implement. Whereas
10388-471: The words that not only justified the use of physical punishment on children for over a thousand years in Christian communities, but ordered it to be used. The words were accepted with but few exceptions; it is only in the last two hundred years that there has been a growing body of opinion that differed. Curiously, the gentleness of Christ towards children (Mark, X) was usually ignored". Corporal punishment
10494-445: The worst of slaves, even to stripes; and lastly, because, if one who regularly exacts his tasks be with him, there will not be the need of any chastisement (Quintilian, Institutes of Oratory, 1856 edition, I, III). Plutarch , also in the first century, writes: This also I assert, that children ought to be led to honourable practices by means of encouragement and reasoning, and most certainly not by blows or ill-treatment, for it surely
10600-520: The yard, to the house, or to just the bedroom and restroom, excepting for required activities, such as attending school or religious services, going to work, obtaining healthcare, performing chores, etc. Examples of restriction of activities would be disallowing visits by friends, forbidding use of a telephone and other means of communications, prohibiting games and electronic entertainment, taking away books and toys, and forbidding watching television and listening to music. " Hotsaucing ", or " Hot saucing ",
10706-531: Was encouraged by two significant cases, the death of Private Frederick John White , who died after a military flogging in 1846, and the death of Reginald Cancellor , killed by his schoolmaster in 1860. Events such as these mobilised public opinion and, by the late nineteenth century, the extent of corporal punishment's use in state schools was unpopular with many parents in England. Authorities in Britain and some other countries introduced more detailed rules for
10812-494: Was highly influential, and may have helped influence Polish legislators to ban corporal punishment from Poland's schools in 1783, the first country in the world to do so. A consequence of this mode of thinking was a reduction in the use of corporal punishment in the 19th century in Europe and North America. In some countries this was encouraged by scandals involving individuals seriously hurt during acts of corporal punishment. For instance, in Britain, popular opposition to punishment
10918-416: Was no common procedure [...] Pettit concludes that among primitive societies corporal punishment is rare, not because of the innate kindliness of these people but because it is contrary to developing the type of individual personality they set up as their ideal [...] An important point to be made here is that we cannot state that physical punishment as a motivational or corrective device is 'innate' to man. In
11024-404: Was not used uncritically; as early as the 11th century Saint Anselm , Archbishop of Canterbury was speaking out against what he saw as the excessive use of corporal punishment in the treatment of children. From the 16th century onwards, new trends were seen in corporal punishment. Judicial punishments were increasingly turned into public spectacles, with public beatings of criminals intended as
11130-545: Was practised in Egypt , China , Greece , and Rome in order to maintain judicial and educational discipline. Disfigured Egyptian criminals were exiled to Tjaru and Rhinocorura on the Sinai border, a region whose name meant " cut-off noses ." Corporal punishment was prescribed in ancient Israel, but it was limited to 40 lashes. In China, some criminals were also disfigured but other criminals were tattooed. Some states gained
11236-404: Was the medieval way of illustrating that actions had consequences. In his 1690 Essay Concerning Human Understanding English physician and philosopher John Locke argued that the child resembled a blank tablet ( tabula rasa ) at birth, and was not inherently full of sin . In his 1693 Some Thoughts Concerning Education he suggested that the task of the parent was to build in the child
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