Discussions regarding Professional Competency Concerning Corporal Punishment

The Debate Continues

Child welfare research indicates that corporal punishment is ineffective, unnecessary, and a harmful form of discipline for parents to use with children (Gershoff & Bitensky, 2007). Despite that knowledge some parents still believe that in order to raise a compliant and well-behaved child, corporal punishment, including spanking, hitting, and slapping, is necessary. For decades professionals and parents alike have debated the differences between corporal punishment and physical abuse. Corporal punishment includes the use of physical force with either the parent’s hand or an instrument as a way of disciplining a child for what the parent considers to be inappropriate behavior. Many argue that corporal punishment helps children change negative behaviors and promote positive moral development. In contrast, physical abuse involves physical punishment that parents dole out in anger and hostility in reaction to a child’s behavior or action.

In this debate some parents and professionals assert that the injuries sustained by the child determine the

distinction between corporal punishment and physical abuse. This argument maintains that if a child does not have physical injuries then physical punishment is an acceptable discipline method and should not be considered abuse. Durrant (2005) argues that one cannot assume that the absence of a physical mark or bruise equates to the absence of abuse. The instrument used, the child’s physical size, and the body part struck determine whether bruising will occur. More importantly, the absence of an injury does not necessarily imply the absence of physical or emotional pain. Another consideration is whether the parent uses corporal punishment for behavior that, while labeled as negative behavior, may in fact reflect age and developmentally appropriate testing of boundaries. For instance, a two-year- old whose development requires the practicing of separation and individuation often demonstrates this developmental process through oppositional behaviors.

Support for corporal punishment among Americans as a whole has decreased slightly since the middle part of the 20th century. One study conducted in 2003 showed that

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©2010 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

ISSUE ONE– 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

Corporal Punishment: Helping Parents Change Their Discipline Paradigm ..............1

Three Women, Two Mothers, One Adoption: Reflections Upon Reunion ......................2

Remembering Homelessness among Children and Families ............................10

Child Welfare: The Continuing Struggle for Reform ............13

Publication of articles does not constitute endorsement by NASW of the opinions expressed in the articles. The views expressed are those of the author(s).

(Corporal Punishment, continued on page 3)

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: HELPING PARENTS CHANGE THEIR DISCIPLINE PARADIGM Ana Leon, PhD, LCSW • Michael Cepero, MSW

3 Child Welfare • Issue One – 2010

individuals within the United States who perceived spanking as an acceptable disciplinary method dropped 30% since the 1960s (Ripoll- Nunez & Rohner, 2006). Still, social workers find that many parents see corporal punishment as a necessity in today’s society in order to keep “children in line,” “help curb unacceptable behavior,” and ensure that children become “productive citizens” in the future. Supporters of corporal punishment attribute frequent displays of disobedient, defiant, and oppositional behavior; talking back to adults or authoritative figures; and temper tantrums to a parent’s unwillingness to utilize corporal punishment.

A Global Perspective

Corporal punishment as a form of child discipline has existed since the time of ancient civilizations. Many cultures outside of the United States also use corporal punishment as a method to regulate child misconduct, instill obedience, or demonstrate parental power and authority. However, a total of 23 countries are slowly banning this practice. Some of the countries that legally ban corporal punishment include the Netherlands, Chile, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Germany. In addition, 91 countries have at least banned corporal punishment by teachers and school administrators within school and academic environments (Gershoff & Bitensky, 2007; Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006). If there are changes in international and national perceptions of the use of corporal punishment, why do so many individuals within the United States still perceive corporal punishment as being not only an effective method of child discipline, but a necessary one?

Factors that Contribute to Accepting Corporal Punishment

Multiple factors contribute to the attitudes and perceptions about the use of corporal

punishment. The definition of what is normal in disciplining practices comes from an individual’s own experiences. One’s own upbringing and culture are examples of such factors. From a learning theory perspective, some individuals whose parents used corporal punishment tend to utilize the same approaches in parenting their own children. Adolescents and adults who have experienced corporal punishment often credit their successful and productive lives to that method of disciplining and do not perceive themselves as victims of abuse, but beneficiaries of “good discipline.” Similarly, a study of 11,660 adults revealed that 74% of the individuals severely abused as children did not perceive themselves as abuse victims (Durrant, 2005).

Corporal Punishment and Religion

Religious beliefs that reinforce corporal punishment as an appropriate discipline for helping children develop respect toward authority and developing good morals may also account for the use of corporal punishment (Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006). The debate over this type of discipline is evident when religious supporters of corporal punishment argue that the absence of such discipline practices will lead to an increase in youth delinquency, crime, and other negative behaviors. Opponents of corporal punishment advocate that the decrease of corporal punishment will result in decreased anger and aggression among youth, who, as a consequence of being physically punished, resort to delinquency, drugs, crime, and other destructive behaviors.

Corporal Punishment, Families, and Culture

Parents who consider their children property and believe they have the right to choose and implement whatever form of discipline perceived to be appropriate, accept corporal punishment as an extension of this right. This perspective views disciplining children, regardless of the

(Corporal Punishment, continued from page 1)

Issue One – 2010 • Child Welfare 4

methods, as a private matter (Ripoll-Nunez & Rohner, 2006).

Families from different cultures who come to the United States may use disciplinary practices that are acceptable in their homeland but may appear to be abusive in this country. Social, cultural, religious, and moral values influenced by culture determine appropriate discipline utilized in any country of origin. Upon arriving in the United States, parents from other cultures sometimes recognize that their own discipline practices differ from mainstream American values that are moving toward the use of positive reinforcement in child discipline. Parents from other cultural backgrounds do not always understand the American legal parameters related to child discipline. This may result in a higher incidence of reports to child protection agencies. However, even within these cultural groups, differences related to socioeconomic status and the use of corporal punishment exist and practitioners should not make the assumption that everyone in a cultural group approaches child discipline from the same perspective (Giles-Sims & Lockhart, 2005).

Behavior Takes Time to Change

Behavioral changes in children take time to manifest. Parents often do not have the necessary patience to wait for changes to be evident and instead resort to corporal punishment. In such cases, the parent may believe the swift delivery of physical punishment will produce the immediate change in behavior desired. Last but not least, parents do not always have enough information on age appropriate development and sometimes mislabel normal developmental behaviors as willful oppositional acts. In those instances, parents are more concerned with finding a quick way to correct and/or stop the undesirable behavior.

Recommendations for Practitioners

It is important to recognize that most parents who utilize corporal punishment believe they are engaging in responsible parenting practices that will help children become productive citizens. The practitioner’s role then is to help parents understand the negative consequences of corporal punishment and help parents find new ways of reinforcing positive behaviors in their children. Practitioners can facilitate a paradigm shift concerning discipline by helping parents:

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5 Child Welfare • Issue One – 2010

1. Understand the relationship between corporal punishment and a variety of problems, including higher rates of criminal activity, assault against a domestic partner, abuse with one’s own children, depression, and substance abuse (Douglas, 2006). Children practice what they learn in their environment. There is a danger that children who are corporally punished may assume that physical punishment is the only way to change behaviors, attitudes, or actions in someone else.

2. Distinguish developmentally appropriate or age appropriate ‘testing’ behaviors from behaviors that may indicate more serious behavioral or mental health problems.

3. Learn how to appropriately use discipline and provide information regarding alternatives to physical punishment. It is important to help the parent identify positive disciplining techniques that are age appropriate and may include using a system of earning privileges for positive behaviors, time outs, and open communication.

4. Identify ways to reduce parental stress, anger, and conflict. Often times, these stressors will influence whether a parent utilizes appropriate discipline or reacts in anger when disciplining a child.

5. Understand the value of appropriate parenting and disciplinary practices as prevention strategies. Too often parents want to introduce appropriate, non-corporal punishment when the child is an adolescent and already acting out, not realizing the value of structure and appropriate discipline during the early years.

Conclusion

Parenting is a challenging job that requires patience, flexibility, “choosing your battles,” and most of all understanding each child’s needs. Most parents want to help their children learn

self-regulation, empathy, morals, values, and appropriate behaviors so that children may become productive members of their families, their communities, and society. Age-appropriate discipline helps children achieve these goals and reach optimal levels of functioning in a variety of contexts. The reality and challenges of daily- living stressors, as well as the lack of knowledge of child development and parenting techniques, may result in parents resorting to corporal punishment in efforts to extinguish negative behaviors. Helping parents find positive ways to discipline children can lead to “win-win” situations that support both parents and their children.

Ana Leon, PhD, LCSW, is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Michael Cepero, MSW, and registered clinical social work intern, is an outpatient therapist with Devereux in Orlando, Florida. He can be contacted at [email protected].

References Douglas, E.M. (2006). Familial violence socialization in childhood

and later life approval of corporal punishment: A cross-cultural perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(1), 23-30.

Durrant, J.E. (2005). Distinguishing physical punishment from physical abuse: Implications for professionals. Envision: The Manitoba Journal of Child Welfare, 4(1), 86-92.

Gershoff, E.T., & Bitensky, S.H. (2007). The case against corporal punishment of children: Converging evidence from social science research and international human rights law and implications for U.S. public policy. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 13(4), 231-272.

Giles-Sims, J., & Lockhart, C. (2005). Culturally shaped patterns of disciplining children. Journal of Family Issues, 26, 196-218.

Ripoll-Nunez, K.J., & Rohner, R.P. (2006). Corporal punishment in cross-cultural perspective: Directions for a research agenda. Cross-Cultural Research, 40(3), 220-249.