Anyone know of any studies that show spanking has beneficial effects?

Question

I am not looking for personal opinion or attitude on this topic. I would like sufficient, factual info. Thanks in advance.

Sleepy buc, I am not looking for an opinion. That is too subjective.

Becky C Still you have no concrete facts about your belief that spanking is beneficial. Dr Spock is a well known (Flawed) individual that believed it was wrong to say no and punishing in any form was bad. Studies did not originate or start with Dr Spock. You only talk about interviewed mothers that spanked and the outcome but where is this study? Where is the proof that spanking didn't cause the misbehavior? How is non-spanking a myth? You really don't make sense and cannot back up this information.

Answer 1

Go to your local Wal Mart or McDonalds and watch everybody's unruly, obnoxious, disrespectful brats and then you might realize the benefits of spanking on your own.

Answer 2

First, the studies showing that it is harmful and not effective are at best inconclusive or at worst deeply flawed.

Originally the studies started with Dr. Spock and some others in the mid-1950's. These were not really scientifc sutidies but based upon neo-Freudian psychology. And they found philosphically that it was harmful because it demeaned the personhood of a child. They promoted the valid idea that children were little persons with a self. While this observation was good, it was eventually carried to the point where parents were advised to be more pals than teachers, mentors and parents with their kids. The academics actually began to pretty much advocate no punishment at all or "natural consequences (with a sop to such ideas as timeouts and the famous Nanny 911 "Naughty Chair). There is even one researcher who advocated if your kid would not get dressed for school to let them go in thier pajamas! None of this is based on studies.

Then in the late 1980's and 1990's there started to be some studies. These were of two types. In one researchers would interview adults about how often and for what they were spanked. They would then attempt to correlate this with behavior and problems as adults. There are two problems with this. One is , of course, the lack of memory of an adult about these things. Second, any correlation is deeply speculative.

Since it is really impossible to do a good "double blind" study, the researchers started interviewing mothers about how often they spanked, for what, and reports on the behavior of their children. They would then follow the families for a couple of years, continuing the interviews and gathering data.

From this they concluded that those parents who spanked most had the worst behaved kids. This is really an illogical conclusion. It pays no attention to general parenting skill, outside spanking, and other socialogical and famalial factors that influence behavior that effect behavior of children.

It is an equally valid conclusion that Moms who spanked the most did so because their kids were the worst behaved--not that spanking caused the misbehavior.

There are actually a lot of studies that have found that spanking not only does not cause harm, but is the most effective way to get kids to comply with their parent's wishes. I have cited and discussed some of these in the source article cited below.

These studies have generally had better statistical controls and data collection methods. They have also gone on longer than the famous "Spanking destroys kids and society" studies. But, they do not get the same media play. This is because there is a strong no-spanking agenda in modern psychology and in the mainstream media.

In fact, it has reached a level of hysteria, and scientifcally the whole non-spanking nonsense is a myth.

I do think there has recently been a bit of a back lash among us younger parents. We are getting real tired of all the bratty spoiled kids and the garbage spilled on stuff like Nanny 911 and Wife Swap. Perhaps the centuries of parental expereinces is more valuable than the premise of the social non-spanking experiment of the 1950's.

The expermiment has failed--and it is just propped up with academic hypothesis that has creeped into mainstream as being fact based--which it is not.
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Note: Mr./Ms. Question asker.

Read the blog article I wrote and cited. There is a hyper link to it. I don't mind my research being critically analyzed. But just dismissing it out of hand is inappropriate

The studies are cited and there is a full explanation. If you would like links to these studies I will provide them. I would have sent them to you but your profile indicates you do not accept messages or e-mail. A simple google search will get them for you.

I explained the types of studies that have found spankings to be ineffecive and/or harmful. I have also expalined the serious problems of these studies.

I have also cited the legitimate studies that have found not only is it effecitve there is no evidence it is harmful.

If you do not want to read with an open mind, read the no-spanking literature critically and examine the methadology of the legitmate studies that have found spanking to be both safe and effective, than there is nothing more I can present to you.

The problem with this subject is people tend to get all hysterical and not look at the real evidence and examine the issue critically and rationally.

You asked if there were studies showing spanking beneficial. Yes there are--I cited two very good ones. And I also discussed the statistical and methadological problems with the studies which have found it harmful.

My point on Dr. Spock is his no spanking stance was not based on any kind of research, evidence or study. This is indisuputable and I am certain he would not deny it. It was based upon neo-Freudian concepts.

Answer 3

Right now all the studies are about how spanking is wrong and evil. I don't agree with that view, but that's how it is. Now if you want studies on the benefits of time outs.... (even though they don't work very well.)

Answer 4

I dont know about studies but when I was a child I would mind because I knew if I didnt I would get a swat and it hurt and I didnt like it.

Answer 5

It never did me any harm. If anything, I miss it.

Answer 6

My last girlfriend liked it. She was ALWAYS well behaved

Answer 7

sleepy buc has the right idea