Even when controlling for other factors that affect child aggression by age five, such as parental neglect, maternal depression and stress, and the child's aggressive tendencies as a toddler, researchers found that maternal aggression begets childhood aggression. Toddlers who are spanked were more likely to grow into kindergarteners that bully, hit, and were destructive and disobedient.
Even if spanking results in (slightly) more aggressive children, the study misses the point. Spanking is a response to the immediate problem of disobedient and/or destructive children. For example, let’s say your child wants to play with matches. You tell them, “No!” and use non-violent parenting techniques, but you find the child secretly playing with a book of matches. What are you going to do? In this particular case, the disobedience might end up in the child’s death. Are you going to refuse to spank the child, because it MIGHT result in SLIGHTLY more aggressive behavior from the child later on? If so, you’re a poor excuse for a parent. Bottom line, this study went searching for harmful effects of spanking, and no surprise, it found some.
BTW, I very, very rarely used spanking on my children, but sometimes nothing less seemed appropriate to the situation.
After I read this BS article, I spanked my children just to make sure they know who’s boss.
Spanking is not the contributing factor, the factor is not having a Dad who since serves best in any family as the disciplinarian since time begun.
A load of crap.
My children understood quite clearly that I would spank them and for what. Yet if queried, I would most times show up in the hadn’t spanked group. I’ll stack my children, both grown now, against any others in terms of citizenship, responsibility and decorum.
The issue is how and when to spank as part of a total disciplinary system. “A few good whacks” as a general disciplinary tool, is neither effective or called for.
Mothers shouldn’t spank their kids; that’s dad’s job!
A real spanking has NOTHING to do with aggression.
Correlation does not prove causality.
I’m sure some of you remember the TV series “The Little Rascals”. It was a staple show in our home. There was a lot of spanking on that show. Hard spanking. I loved it when one of the kids would get in trouble and then stack books in their shorts so the spanks wouldn’t hurt so bad! LOL.
My mother used to threaten spanking a lot - and spanking with the dreaded “pancake turner”. She only spanked me one time. It was the shear fear of getting a spanking that kept me in line...at least until I outgrew her.
Great answers, what a laugh.
If you fail to whip your son then you will get a woosified girlyman that thinks that Martha Stewart is required viewing.
“Research finds spanking has long-term negative effects on children’s behavior.”
This has to be understood in the context of today’s politically saturated academic environment. ‘Negative effects’ can mean male children who are competitive, and traditionally masculine. These people see the ideal as ‘girly metrosexuals’ who preen themselves and live by their emotions. ‘Aggressive behavior’ is how they denigrate courage and moral resolve. Considering the source and the context, this study validates spanking as the key to raising men and women of character.
Going back six generations from my Grandsons, we have had no persons jailed or involved any any action that would be considered “aggressive”. My own childhood included occasional correcting by Grandfather’s,handed down,homemade leather strop. 24 inches long with a 1/2’ hole on one end,so it could be hung on a nail. It would leave a nice red spot on one’s bottom.
Mom didn’t wait for Dad to come home!
Well then it’s a good thing 3 of mine chose the military for their careers - they can work off all that aggression from years of getting their butts busted hunting the enemy. Look out Taliban! LOL
Ya, Mothers who don’t spank are dragging around the spoiled, misbehaived brats, that everyone else is motivated to spank....
50 years ago, most kids got spanked. Do you think they were more aggressive then than now? Not to mention, passivity can be overrated. Would you rather have the passive couch potato or the person aggressive enough to go get a job and pay their own bills?
You forgot the MEGA BARF ALERT on this post. These pseudo scientific study’s have ALWAYS left out items affecting this kind of behavior. Why is it I can show you far more well adjusted kids who were spanked yet somehow they are NEVER COUNTED among the control group?
Its the same when I talked to a liberal who worked with “at risk” kids who are abused. to her it was an epidemic...of course it is, those are the ONLY kids you see. If they are coming to you they are in deep troubles yet she conveniently forgot about the MILLIONS and MILLIONS of kids she does NOT see.
And mother’s who don’t spank have screaming, wild, little monsters who can wrap their parents around their little fingers while annoying everyone else!
Are they sure its not aggressive toddlers are more likely to be spanked?
Spanking is evil, but partial-birth abortion is a “right” to be defended at all costs. Makes sense to me.
Study: Spanked Children May Grow Up to Be Happier, More Successful
There's a dozen studies saying it's good, and a dozen saying it's bad. My conclusion? STOP FUNDING THESE ASININE STUDIES!
what utter bullshite