The Evidence on Spanking Children

Including Some Wacky Science

I was at a friend's barbecue, mingling. To my left, a group of mothers huddled together, engaging in a rather surprising discussion. They were not debating about whose child behaved better or excelled in school and sports. Instead, their argument revolved around who administered the most effective physical punishment.

One mother, with a tone of pride, bragged about her preferred tool - a sturdy hairbrush with hard, thick plastic bristles that did not sway. She elaborated on its effectiveness, emphasizing how the firm bristles reinforced the sternness necessary. Another mother chimed in, countering with her belt, worn in and weathered. She detailed how the leather would make a snapping sound upon contact - a sound, she claimed, was pleasurable.

The conversation was unsettling and not knowing any of these mothers, I resisted stepping in to offer a different perspective.

This incident reminded me of a therapy client. She grew up in a household where a minor accident would trigger mother’s volatile temper. If she dropped a plate in a restaurant, she knew that upon returning home, a physical slap or hit was likely. Always on body parts invisible to the public - the back, upper leg, or bottom.

Hers is just one story. And we should be careful of lone narratives. But here lies an adult woman offering a warning of the potential long-term psychological impact of corporal punishment. The woman realized how childhood skewed her perception of what’s normal. She spent childhood being as silent and non-existent as possible with the hope mother wouldn’t lash out. Then she did the same thing in a 20-year marriage.

What is your child worth? A child must be worth more than a broken glass or plate. Every adult must teach children this - not by words but with action.

Tragically, this woman’s story is common. A lot of children are being subjected to ordinary corporal punishment.

Nationally representative samples of the United States show that a large % of youth are being hit. Black children below the age of 10 are at greatest risk - click here

Which leads to a debate in the scientific literature and parents around the world. How bad are the long-term consequences for children who are spanked/hit?

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Let’s look closely at peer-reviewed scientific studies and determine whether the data justify the words of too many politicians who claim, “Ignore the science, as the parent, you know best.”