Child Abuse: To Spank Or Not To Spank?

Shayla May

English IV- A Mrs! "ones # Mar$h %&

May i Outline Thesis: E'en though spankings ha'e been a (or) o( punish)ent sin$e bibli$al ti)es* it has brought up both sides o( debate! I! There are positi'e e((e$ts o( spanking $hildren! A! In Santa Clara County* a $ase brought up the debate o( a )other being $harged +ith $hild abuse! ,! Spankings $orre$t a $hild-s beha'ior! C! A,C ne+s poll sho+s )ore than hal( o( parents use spankings as a dis$ipline! II! .ersonal responses to spanking! A! Spankings $ause pains but so does other things* so is it really $onsidered abuse? ,! Inter'ie+ +ith so$ial +orker /irby 0unter! C! Statisti$s about resear$h done at Cal'in College in Mi$higan! III! Child .rote$tion Agen$ies A! Child .rote$tion Ser'i$es ,! Child Abuse .re'ention and Treat)ent A$t IV! There are negati'e e((e$ts o( spanking! A! .arents o( the ne+-s$hool )ethod do not $ondone spanking! ,! Eli1abeth 2ersho((* re'ie+s resear$h and highlights the negati'e e((e$ts o( spankings!

C! The A)eri$an A$ade)y o( .ediatri$s does not $ondone $hild abuse! D. 3r! Eri$ .! Slade and 3r! 4a+ren$e S! 5isso+ to sho+ that spanking a $hild under the age o( (our is detri)ental to the (uture beha'iors o( the $hild! E! 6esear$h has sho+n that physi$al dis$ipline $auses serious risks to $hildren! May ii V! 5ho-s (irst? A! 3ela+are is (irst to ban spanking! VI! Case study and statisti$s A! Ale$ia "ohnson is arrested (or o'er spanking her $hild! ,! 3r! Murray A! Straus resear$h sho+s (uture beha'ioral proble)s (or $hildren that are spanked! VII! 6easons (or spanking their $hildren! A! The reasons +hy $hildren are spanked! VIII! There is a thin line bet+een spanking and abuse! A! 7sing physi$al (or$e against your $hild )ay initiate $hild abuse +hen the dis$ipline! VIIII! Con$lusion

May & Child Abuse: Spank Or Not To Spank? Is spanking $onsidered a (or) o( $hild abuse? This topi$ has been debatable (or )any years! Spanking is the a$t o( striking the butto$ks o( another person to $ause te)porary pain +ith $ausing in8uries! Many people (eel that spanking is a (or) o( punish)ent that needs to be used to $orre$t a $hild-s beha'ior! Others (eel that spanking $an $ause $hildren to be$o)e 'iolent and other +ays o( dis$ipline $an be used! Spanking also kno+n as a $orporal punish)ent is a highly $ontro'ersial topi$ +ith parents* resear$hers and a$ti'ists! E'en though spankings ha'e been a (or) o( punish)ent sin$e bibli$al ti)es* it has brought up both sides o( debate! ,y the states appeal $ourt* a +o)an in Santa Clara County +as labeled a $hild abuser a(ter spanking her & -year old daughter (or lea'ing bruises on her be$ause she stopped doing her s$hool +ork and lying! The so$ial +orkers and 8udge had to $onsider the parent-s right to (or$e upon 9reasonable dis$ipline!: 3ete$ti'e 6ushing said* 9Although beating a $hild )ay a)ount to abuse*: it depends on the stipulation* on +hether or not the bruises +ere predeter)ined by the

parent! This $ase is part o( the debate o( $orporal punish)ent* $hild health* and parental rights! It is 'alid to debate that spankings are a type o( $hild abuse be$ause it is physi$al; ho+e'er* $hildren need dis$ipline to tea$h the) right (ro) +rong! 5ithout so)e sort o( regulation* $hildren +ill al+ays be ill beha'ed! Spankings lets the $hild kno+ that +hat they ha'e 8ust done +as +rong and to not do it again! <<Corporal punish)ent is the use o( physi$al (or$e +ith the intention o( $ausing a $hild to e=perien$e pain* but not in8ury* (or the purpose o( $orre$tion or $ontrol o( the $hild-s beha'ior-- >Straus &??@A! So)e $hildren do not see being sent to their roo) as a punish)ent! On the other hand* a $hild i))ediately understands that he is May being punished +hen he is being spanked! It $auses i))ediate pain and is seen as a dire$t $onseBuen$e o( )isbeha'ior e'en though it does little physi$al har) to the $hild! A$$ording to an A,C ne+s poll >&??%A* )ore than si=ty-(i'e per$ent o( A)eri$ans belie'e in spanking their $hildren! Spanking is a (or) o( dis$ipline that in'ol'es physi$ally hitting a $hild a(ter being disobedient! Most parents belie'e that spanking is a positi'e +ay to dis$ipline $hildren be$ause o( the e((e$t it has on the $hild! The $hild +ill Bui$kly begin to learn +hat is a$$eptable beha'ior and +hat is not! .arents see it as tea$hing a $hild to ha'e respe$t and take responsibility (or their a$tions! So)e parents 'ie+ spanking as a good +ay to dis$ipline their $hildren early!0a'ing a punish)ent tea$hes the $hild that (or e'ery bad thing* there is a $onseBuen$e! E'en though spankings are pain(ul* a parent )ust so)eti)es do unpleasant things (or the $hildCs o+n good: A parent )ay ha'e to let a do$tor gi'e her $hild a shot! The shot is pain(ul and )akes the $hild $ry* but it is ne$essary! A spanking is the sa)e +ay! It is pain(ul* and no parent +ants to do it* but it is so)eti)es ne$essary! 4etting )isbeha'ior go unpunished +ould

be e'en +orse! Dor e=a)ple* a parent does a $hild no (a'ors by ignoring their lying! The $hild +ill gro+ up to be a $hroni$ liar that no one +ill trust or +ant to be around! Is that better than gi'ing a $ouple o( spankings (or lying early on? >.reston %&@A Spankings are no )ore har)(ul than any other punish)ent! In )any $ases* it is pre(erable to other punish)ents su$h as ti)e-out or grounding! The ad'antages o( spanking are its intensity and its duration! Spanking is an intense punish)ent* but it only last (or no )ore than E% se$onds; +hile grounding and ti)e-out )ay be hours or days!

May E A(ter inter'ie+ing so$ial +orker /irby 0unter* ,S5* spanking is not a (or) o( $hild abuse; ho+e'er* it does depend on the se'erity o( the spanking! She belie'es that people ha'e to be $ulturally $o)peten$e +hen it $o)es to $hild abuse! In )ost A(ri$an A)eri$an households* spanking is a (or) o( dis$ipline not abuse* +hile in Cau$asian households spanking is not a (or) o( dis$ipline > %&@A! 6esear$hers at Cal'in College in Mi$higan* ran by .sy$hologist Mar8orie 2unnoe* sur'eyed *F%% people and in$luded inter'ie+ers o( &G? teenagers! The study (o$used on a nu)ber o( 9good: and 9bad: beha'iors* su$h as $on(iden$e about the (uture and anti-so$ial a((e$t! A(ter being sur'eyed* data $on$luded that teenagers +ho +ere spanked up to age si= reported that they +ere )ore su$$ess(ul in s$hool* )ore interested in attending uni'ersity* )ore likely to +ork as 'olunteers and )ore positi'e about li(e! It also $on$luded that $hildren spanked by their parents )ay per(or) better at s$hool and gro+ up to be happier than those +ho donCt re$ei'e su$h punish)ent! ,e$ause o( this huge debate* the 7! S has put in pla$e the Child .rote$ti'e Ser'i$es

>C.SA! The C.S is a $entral agen$y that re$ei'es reports o( $hild abuse and negle$t! They deter)ine i( the reported in(or)ation )eets the guidelines o( $hild )altreat)ent and 8udges ho+ the agen$y )ust respond to the to the report! They prote$t $hildren (ro) har)* strengthen the ability o( the (a)ily* and pro'ide a sa(e alternati'e (or the $hild and (a)ily! In &?G@* the Child Abuse .re'ention and Treat)ent A$t >CA.TAA +ere a)ended and re+ritten nu)eral ti)es! It is a (ederal legislation that (o$uses on $hild abuse and the sa(ety o( a $hild! It helps state go'ern)ents identi(y i( the $ase is a (or) o( $hild abuse! A$$ording to CA.TA* $hild abuse is* 9any re$ent a$t or (ailure to a$t on the part o( a parent or $aretaker that May @ results in death* serious physi$al or e)otional har)* se=ual abuse* or e=ploitation*H and "an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm" (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act). 5hile so)e (eel spanking is not a (or) o( $hild abuse* others do! .arents o( the ne+s$hool )ethod do not $ondone spanking! They belie'e it is a (or) o( $hild abuse and it should not be used as a (or) o( dis$ipline! Many $hild-de'elop)ent e=perts do not belie'e in spanking as +ell! They argue that the punish)ent (ails to $hange the $hild-s beha'ior* +hi$h is the goal o( the dis$ipline! A$$ording to 2eorge E! S)ith* .h3!* 9Spanking is )ore (or the adult than (or the $hild!: It sends the +rong )essage* sets a poor e=a)ple* and $an so)eti)es be taken too (ar! In an arti$le $alled* 9Spanking and Child 3e'elop)ent: 5e /no+ Enough No+ to Stop 0itting Our Children*: by Eli1abeth 2ersho((* she re'ie+s the resear$h o( spanking $hildren! It $on$luded three unpleasant beha'iors due to spanking; non-$o)plian$e short ter)* non$o)plian$e long ter)* and aggression! Children do not learn ho+ to beha'e (ro) getting spanked; they learn (ro) pra$ti$ing a$tions that +ork and lead to a sense o( $o)peten$e!

Spanking destroys trust in parents* in$reases $ri)inal beha'ior* and )akes it )ore likely the $hild +ill physi$ally abuse others in the (uture! The A)eri$an A$ade)y o( .ediatri$s outlined a state)ent against spanking! They are planning on )aking the issue nation+ide to dis$ourage spanking e'ery+here! The A)eri$an A$ade)y o( .ediatri$s say* 9Spanking is har)(ully e)otional to both parent and $hild* IandJ it also inter(eres +ith the de'elop)ent o( trust* a sense o( se$urity and e((e$ti'e $o))uni$ationH > %%EA! Condu$ted by the National Center (or 0ealth Statisti$s* they sur'eyed *%F# parents +ith $hildren bet+een the ages o( @ to EK )onths* by phone* +ith Buestions about dis$ipline )ethods May K that are used! There +ere FL spanking* FGL yelling* G%L using ti)e-out* and ?%L +ith e=planations! In $on$lusion to their sur'ey* spanking $hildren raised beha'ioral proble)s* poor )ental health* risks o( aggression* and a la$k o( parent-$hild relationship! In the 7nited States* a study +as $ondu$ted by 3r! Eri$ .! Slade and 3r! 4a+ren$e S! 5isso+ to sho+ that spanking a $hild under the age o( (our is detri)ental to the (uture beha'iors o( the $hild! Ele'en per$ent o( the )others sur'eyed spanked their $hild F to && )onths o( age* EFL spanked a $hild & to&G )onths o( age* and K?L spanked a $hild &# to E )onths o( age! The resear$hers (eel that i( the spanking is applied too o(ten* at an early age* the $hild +ill gro+ up +ith no a((e$tionate relationship +ith their )other! Spanking be(ore the age o( t+o $ould be riskier be$ause $hildren go through $hanges dealing +ith e)otions* initiating relationships +ith parents* and relian$e on adults (or sa(ety and se$urity! Those +ho do not de'elop a reliable relationship +ith their parents be(ore the age o( t+o are )ore likely to ha'e proble)s ad8usting in the (uture +ith persistent beha'ioral proble)s and intera$ting +ith other peers > %%@A! 6esear$h has sho+n that physi$al dis$ipline $auses serious risks to $hildren! 9It-s a 'ery

$ontro'ersial area e'en though the resear$h is e=tre)ely telling and 'ery $lear and $onsistent about the negati'e e((e$ts on $hildren*: says Sandra 2raha)-,er)ann* .h3! A)eri$ansrelian$e on spanking has in$reased sin$e &?F% and sur'eys sho+ t+o-thirds o( A)eri$ans still $ondone spankings! Spankings are being 'ie+ed as 'iolation o( $hildren-s hu)an rights! A study inter'ie+ed parents and $hildren ages E to G (ro) )ore than &%% (a)ilies! It $on$luded that $hildren spanked be$o)e )ore aggressi'e and usually hit their peers and siblings to resol'e their proble)s! 3ela+are has been the (irst to ban spanking! In 3ela+are* 2o'ernor "a$k Markell signed May F bill E@ into la+ to ban spanking $hildren! It +as sponsored by Senator .atri$ia ,le'ins to rede(ine $hild abuse la+s and in$lude $ausing pain! ,e(ore the ne+ legislation* $hild abuse $ases +ere prose$uted under the sa)e representation that dealt +ith assault by abuse or negle$t; no+ it is $lassi(ied as a separate $ri)e and has harsher penalties! This la+ $reates three ne+ le'els o( $hild abuse! ,ill E@ also $o)pares abortion as a physi$al abuse i( there is no per)ission o( the pregnant (e)ale! So)eti)es being spanked $an go to (ar! In Te=as %&%* Ale$ia "ohnson +as sent to 8ail (or beating her son +ith a belt and lea'ing +elts all o'er his body! E'en though it is legal to spank your $hild a$$ording to the Te=as la+* it is illegal to use physi$al abuse as a physi$al in8ury! A$$ording to Spokesperson Marissa 2on1ales o( the Te=as 3epart)ent o( Da)ily .rote$ti'e Ser'i$es* 9It is not against the la+ to use physi$al punish)ent +ith your $hild i( you $hoose to do so* ho+e'er* you ha'e to be 'ery $are(ul!: She stressed that +hate'er )ethod o( dis$ipline you $hoose; you need to understand the la+ behind it! 3r! Murray A! Straus $ondu$ted resear$h on #%G parents +ith $hildren bet+een the ages

o( F-?! Dorty-(our per$ent spanked their $hild at least on$e a day! A(ter )easuring the $hildren-s antiso$ial beha'ior skills* it sho+ed an in$rease (ro) the resear$h that +as done t+o years ago! The study +as based on the beha'iors o( cheating or telling lies, bullying or being cruel or mean to others, does not feel sorry after misbehaving, breaking things deliberately, disobedient at school, and has trouble getting along with teachers! 5hen you spank your $hild* it is be$ause you are hurt by the $hild-s beha'ior! .arents are striking ba$k to i)pose the sa)e pain they ha'e done to you! I( a situation like that o$$urs* parents should deta$h the)sel'es (ro) the en'iron)ent to $ontrol their anger! ,y $ontrolling May G their rage* it $an )ake the situation less se'ere than it already is! Most parents +ho spank their $hildren do not plan on hurting their $hildren; they i)pulsi'ely rea$t out o( anger! There is a line bet+een spanking and abuse! 7sing physi$al (or$e against your $hild )ay initiate $hild abuse +hen the dis$ipline $ause in8ury* the a)ount o( (or$e is unbearable* and the purpose o( the dis$ipline! ,ut +hen you +rong(ully atta$k a $hild out o( anger it is abuse! There +ill ne'er be a real ans+er to spanking being a (or) o( $hild abuse! E'eryone is raised di((erently and belie'es in there o+n )ethods o( dis$ipline! 0o+e'er* e'eryone $an agree that $hildren do need so)e sort o( punish)ent! So)e belie'e physi$al )ethods are the right +ay and other belie'es $o))uni$ation is key! This debate +ill li'e (ore'er!

May # 5orks Cited ,erger* 6a$hel .!* and Ada) "! Tolodor! HIs There an Asso$iation ,et+een .hysi$al .unish)ent in Childhood and .hysi$al 0ealth in Adulthood?H Pediatrics! N!p!* & Aug! %&E! 5eb! # Mar! %&@! Crandall* "ullie! H.oll: Most Appro'e o( Spanking /ids!H ABC News! N!p!* # No'! 5eb! # Mar! %&@! Egelko* ,ob! HCourt: Spanking i)properly labeled $hild abuse!H SFGate! N!p!* # O$t! %&E! 5eb! # Mar! %&@! 0enderson* Shirley! 9To Spank Or Not To Spank!: Ebony FE!E > %%#A: &@%! MAS 7ltra-S$hool Edition! 5eb! G Mar %&@! 4ans(ord* "enni(er E!* et al! 9Dor)s O( Spanking And Children E=ternali1ing ,eha'iors!: Family Relations F&! > %& A: @- EF! E6IC! 5eb! # Mar! %&@

Slade* E.* and 4S 5isso+! 9Spanking In Early Childhood And 4ater ,eha'ior .roble)s: A .rospe$ti'e Study O( In(ants And Moung Toddlers!: Pediatrics &&E!K .art & > %%@A:

&E &-&EE%! CINA04 .luss +ith Dull Te=t! 5eb! F Mar! %&@! Straus* Murray! HS.AN/IN2 MA/ES C0I436EN VIO4ENT* ANTISOCIA4!H Project NoSpank! N!p!* &E Aug! &??G! 5eb! # Mar! %&@!