New Research: Why Never Spanking Might Be Worse for Kids Than Spanking Them

Newsweek ^ | December 30, 2009 | Po Bronson

[Arec Barrwin]

New Research: Why Never Spanking Might Be Worse for Kids Than Spanking Them

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:00 AM By Po Bronson

In NurtureShock, we described some extensive cross-ethnic and international research on spanking by Drs. Jennifer Lansford and Ken Dodge.

Their data suggested that if a culture views spanking as the normal consequence for bad behavior, kids aren’t damaged by its occasional use.

To explain this shocker, the scholars suggested that in cultures or communities where spanking is common, parents are less agitated when administering spankings. Spanking almost never when combined with losing your temper can be worse than spanking frequently.*

But what about the third option: not spanking them at all?

Unfortunately, there’s been little study of this, because children who’ve never been spanked aren’t easy to find. Most kids receive physical discipline at least once in their life. But times are changing, and parents today have numerous alternatives to spanking. The result is that kids are spanked less often overall, and kids who’ve never been spanked are becoming a bigger slice of the pie in long-term population studies.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I only got the belt twice as a kid. Both times, I had it coming in spades ;-)

[Gondring]

To explain this shocker, [...]

A shocker only to liberal idiots who read Newsweak (sic).

[pgyanke]

You should spank your children every day. You may not know what they’ve done... but they do...

[Starboard]

Willful disobedience and behavior that endangers oneself or others are reasons to seriously consider the spanking option.

[I still care]

Newsweek is atrocious, isn’t it? My far left sibling reads it religiously, and then parrots it.

The comments at the bottom of the article reveal the shock and anger of their regular viewers; i.e. “child buttock battering”. Egad.

[a fool in paradise]

Because they might grow up one day to become president after never being told "No!"

[a fool in paradise]

Barney Frank is busy mixing up some batter as we speak...

[JenB987]

I was only spanked once, and boy did I never talk back to my mom ever again. Dad left his print on my back side.

[Gondring]

My brother was a cop in an area with lots of rich liberal professors, and countless times he'd have to pick up their little darlings and talk to the parents. Often, these parents would say something like, "Why would our child do something like this to us? We always gave them what they wanted...we never punished them...."

I wish I could recall some of my brother's witty lines to them. (It was a treat to do a ride-along with him wired up with a mic.)

[Sacajaweau]

Always thought time out was dumb...A punishment for parents who might stop some kid's rotten behavior with one whack.

From my perspective, it put the parent in a corner...Dumb, dumb, dumb....

Every kid has a price...find out what it is...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Same here. Never got a lickin' that I didn't have coming.

Gad...I miss my Pa.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Spare the rod, spoil the child.

It is a good idea to tell them what action(s) resulted in the discipline too. Otherwise they’ll just think they got a whoopin’ because Mommy/Daddy was in a bad mood/doesn’t like them/or is just likes tanning their hyde for no good reason.

[Secret Agent Man]

There is a huge difference in physical abuse and corrective, physical discipline. The libs and RINOs and wimpy conservatives who can’t figure out the difference, well, there’s the real problem right there. Common sense on the issue is gone for these folks.

It also illustrates that you can’t use a one-size-fits-all when it comes to disciplining children. Talking, time outs, etc just will not cut it with some people.

[lesko]

Looking for New Research that irrefutably proves spanking punk lib senators and representatives does some good.

[Gondring]

Sad thing is, those folks who read it think in all sincerity that they are becoming informed.

[Paperdoll]

YAWN.. So what else is new? What about “spare the rod and spoil the child” did Dr. Benjamin Spock not understand?

[sitetest]

I’ve never spanked either of my children (ages 15 and 12). Things aren’t going too badly.

[BobL]

I didn’t need “new research”, I relied on the 5,000 years of recorded history and spanked the daylights out of my kids. It was fun, and believe it or not, they appreciate it now (and even then, which surprised me). Obviously, I only went to the level needed to get some tears flowing.

[domenad]

Oddly enough, now that I think about it I don’t know how to spank a child. I mean, that sounds stupid because it would seem elementary, but is it just one big flat smack on the rear, is it five, is it with a paddle or your hand. I need a “Spanking For Dummies” book. And please, no puns.