Spanking as a Method of Discipline
Spanking a child is an old method of disciplining a child; nonetheless, there has been much discussion about whether it is an effective method of taming a youngster or has harmful consequences. It is an excellent method for imparting discipline and values in children.
Effectiveness of Spanking
In answer to the first opponent's claim that physical punishment causes aggression, they claim that spanking a child makes them aggressors. This, however, is not the case. It is, in fact, effective when performed in a controlled atmosphere. When a child does something wrong, smacking them becomes a deterrent, next time they will know that what they are doing is wrong and shall be punished for it (Pingleton). Spanking is particularly effective for young children since reasoning or taking away privileges at that young age does not work.
Importance of a Calm Environment
It is vital that physical punishment is carried out in a calm environment. The emphasis is assisting the child in learning a good behavior in contrast to satisfying guardian's frustrations at the time. Spanking is a very effective form of punishment, particularly when done gently and with love. Parents, however, ought to be careful not to physically hurt their children.
The Role of Fear and Respect
The second con as aforementioned is that it fosters fear rather than respect and affects the children emotionally as they are likely to develop an antisocial behavior. For a child to be discipline, they have to know there is a level of authority that they ought to respect. Giving timeouts or taking away privileges will not make them understand that there an authority they ought to fear (Duke). Physical punishment allows the parent to exert fear and authority at the same time. If a child is thinking of misbehaving, the fear of punishment will cause them to retreat. Besides, slapping causes a bit of physical pain, which is a more effective deterrent to bad behavior than simply time outs or taking away privileges.
Establishing Respect and Authoritative Guidance
Spanking establishes respect. Punishing a child teaches them to respect their guardians. It might introduce some level of fear; however, youngsters often require that to behave well. Majority of the parents in modern day perceive themselves primarily as the child's friends and back away at the thought of disciplining them physically. Youngsters, though need their love and acknowledgment, they also need their parent's authoritative guidance and correction (Mah and Johnston 489). A child needs to know that a parent is in charge and that they should not do certain things; otherwise, they shall be punished. Authoritative parents love using smacking as a means of discipline. These parents often balance firm control with encouragement. Often as studies show they bring up most socially responsible and assertive children who are focused, cooperate well with their peers, respect adults and are purposed.
Preventing Dangerous or Dumb Actions
Another advantage of smacking is that it shall stop the children or teens from doing dangerous or dumb things. Numerous parents, who are against it, often say they had at one point spanked their kids previously and it was effective. It is only that they feel that their children have outgrown it (Larzelere 143). Many kids often do not listen or obey what they parents are saying. They never listen to words, threats, grounding or punishments such as timeouts or removal of TV or electronics privileges. At times, it is physical punishment that really passes the message across. No one wants their children to be doing dangerous things now of in future, when simple spanking could have thwarted them.
The Shock Factor
There is also the issue of shock factor. Spanking the children inflicts a little pain in children, and therefore they are unlikely to repeat wrong acts when they know they shall be spanked. The shock factor stops them. A quick beating from nowhere shall bring the child back to reality when all the others have failed (Reens). Anyone, even adults, who is slapped, will surely stop whatever they are doing and look around.
Concerns and Proper Administration
Administering Spanking Properly
One of the reasons many people or psychologists are against physical punishment is that it is often not administered well. The problem often comes in when a guardian chooses to spank their children out of frustration or anger rather than love. When one constantly spanks their children, there is a likelihood that he or she shall become annoyed and lash out at them. This is very dangerous and might result in abuse or injury. Punishment ought to be used to aid the children in changing their negative behavior to a good one (Larzelere 144). When punishing a child out of anger, there is no lesson to learn. When hitting a kid, one needs to explain to them why they are being spanked and why their behavior is wrong.
Conclusion
Spanking is an ancient way of punishing children's wrongdoing and has been carried out from one generation to another, yet the children have turned out well. Back in the ancient days, bringing up a child was regarded as a clan's or community's role; therefore physical punishment was meted out by anyone in the community when a child misbehaves. The children, nevertheless, turned out quite well with a strong personality. In fact, even the bible advocates for physical punishment. It is interesting to opponents state that spanking breeds fear rather than respect, when one looks at the 21st-century kids, whom majority are not spanked, they lack respect towards their parents and adults.
Works Cited
Duke, Selwyn. “New Study Finds Spanking Is Good For Kids.” Thenewamerican, Jan. 2010, https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/family/item/548-new-study-finds-spanking-is-good-for-kids. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
Larzelere, Robert E. “Response to Oosterhuis: Empirically Justified Uses of Spanking: Toward a Discriminating View of Corporal Punishment.” Journal of Psychology and Theology, vol. 21, no. 2, 1993, pp. 142-147.
Mah, Janet W.T., and Charlotte Johnston. “Cultural Variations in Mothers’ Acceptance Of And Intent To Use Behavioral Child Management Techniques.” Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 21, no. 3, 2012, pp. 486-497.
Pingleton, Jared. “Spanking Can Be An Appropriate Form Of Child Discipline.” Time, Sep. 2014, http://time.com/3387226/spanking-can-be-an-appropriate-form-of-child-discipline. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
Reens, Nate. “Is Spanking Children OK? Calvin College Professor’s Research Shows Adults Who Remember Being Spanked Are More Well-Adjusted.” Mlive, Jan. 2010, http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/is_spanking_children_ok_calvin.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
