Corporal Punishment

Paper Summary:

This paper addresses the controversial issue of corporal punishment by parents and explains the difficulties there are in defining what constitutes corporal punishments. The author takes on the definition of spanking but shows that there are also difficulties in studies done on this topic because they use different variables and the respondents are affected by their emotions. The author quotes that the most reliable studies actually supported the use of corporal punishment. The paper concludes that when corporal punishment is discussed, many variables need to be considered, such as the age of the child, the type of infraction, how the punishment is delivered and other discipline options available to the parent.

From the Paper:

"It seems that everyone holds an opinion on what they call "corporal punishment," and everyone seems to know exactly what they mean by "corporal punishment." Technically, corporal punishment means "the infliction of punishment on the body" (Benatar, 1998), meaning that everything from one swat on the behind of a toddler to torture to death by electrocution or lethal injection is "corporal punishment. However, when parents or researchers talk about the corporal punishment of children, what they usually mean is spanking, a form of discipline used by many parents. Benatar (1998) defines it as "the infliction of physical pain without injury" (Benatar, 1998), but that definition is also broader than spanking."

More papers on Corporal Punishment:

• Essay # 32205 : "Corporal Punishment in Schools: Academic and Social Effects"
• Persuasive Essay # 134010 : "Should Corporal Punishment of Children be Permitted?"
• Essay # 69696 : "Corporal Punishment in American Education"
• Term Paper # 140559 : "A Perspective on Corporal Punishment"

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