How Spanking Harms the Brain

Molly S. Castelloe, Ph.D., tells us:

This analysis, conducted at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, offers new evidence that corporeal punishment causes cognitive impairment and long-term developmental difficulties.

Debates around corporeal punishment typically revolve around the ethics of using violence to enforce discipline. This inquiry synthesized 20 years of published research on the topic and aims to "shift the ethical debate over corporeal punishment into the medical sphere," says Joan Durant, a professor at University of Manitoba and one of the authors of the study. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...arms-the-brain

Having been introduced to the metal handle of a Fuller Brush broom at an early age, I found this study very interesting. "Spare the rod and spoil the child." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/328950.html

Are there yeas or nays for corporeal punishment?

"Parents of lower income and with less formal education spank more often".

I suspect those factors should have more weight in their hypotheses than the idea that "Corporeal punishment correlates to higher levels of acting out in school and trouble in academic performance".

Lots of issues exist in many families with low incomes and lower education levels. Those would be better factors to be studied to find correlations for why children act out and/or are not as successful in life.

My sibs and I were spanked (wooden spoon and dad's belt). We are all college grads and have good jobs. Yes, I suffer with depression, but I view that more as a genetic issue.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Psychological Association oppose striking a child or adolescent for any reason". Fine to say - but none of them were there helping me raise my children. I did my best not to spank - but sometimes a little pain in the butt was the wake-up call my children needed.

Just my 2 cents.

I have also read that moms of sons who were most successful were very loving and very strict. I did use spanking as an immediate call to transgression awareness I see so many children now that appear to have had no discipline and parents gone the way of "political correctness" of today's ideas; yet they are horrible brats that do not show respect for anyone. Extremely selfish and self-centered, no manners and will likely not be productive citizens of the world. They've had no way to understand what it takes to strive in this world for much of anything they hope to gain, but expect others to provide their needs. By the way my son is extremely successful. bj

There are a lot of successful people with emotional problems.

Touche, but from what I know of him he is well into being quite normal. Getting me to believe the "politically correct" view of thinking is a waste of your time. I didn't beat my child and I do not feel guilty about rearing him in the manner that I did. He was never a brat and learned good manners and consideration of others.

I am not trying to convince you of anything, nor did I imply you beat your child. I am not your enemy.

Of course you are not my enemy. I just have found some research terribly flawed. On the web, you can find anything pro or con concerning any
one topic. They do say 50 years ago when almost every parent spanked, there was less criminal activity among the young than there is today.

I have a nurse friend that works with troubled teens and there is more brutality and willingness to cause harm to others than ever before. At this young age, 12 on, is numbers of youngsters who have no respect, and are hardened/angry enough to murder. We are loosing so many of our young now to be a drain on society and it's future. That is frightening! I'm not using this one illustration as factual full information....but there are many institutions around that we did not need several years ago.

Most of us using PC have had abuse and been victimized to a larger or lesser degree, but I think we have still been able, for the most part, to function as responsible citizens. This is not to say, that discipline should be spanking or time-out....but where have the parents failed for kids to be so
acting out at such a young age. Just rambling here, but it is a worrisome
thought. Maybe I'm just getting older and looking at things a bit more jaded than in my younger years. Seems like the whole world is such a mess, in every way. Thanks for reading. bj

In my opinion punishments should fit the "crime" and the child. I spanked my children but spankings were reserved for dangerous things. I am perfectly comfortable with the fact my children did not run out into the street because they were more afraid of getting a whack on the bottom than of getting hit by a car.

My parents believed wholeheartedly in "Spare the rod and spoil the child." And on many occassions those spankings actually became beatings that were more about venting their anger than correcting my behavior. I never thought I would raise a hand to my children. But my experience did affect me. No one, not even my husband, but me was allowed to spank my children. It was never done in anger. As a result, they knew if mom swatted them on the butt, she meant BUSINESS. I have four children and I have delivered five spankings.