SAEDNEWS: The More a Child is Physically Hit, the Higher the Risk of Aggression and Emotional Harm
According to SaedNews’ Family Service and citing Mardoman, corporal punishment undoubtedly leads to immediate compliance from children. At the same time, however, it can also be considered a form of physical abuse. So, should parents punish their children, or should they be prohibited from doing so altogether?
In some families, corporal punishment is frequently used as a disciplinary tool for children. This issue has always been a subject of debate within psychological and social circles. Some child psychologists believe that physical punishment hampers both the physical and emotional development of children. In a comprehensive study encompassing 88 diverse case studies, Dr. Elizabeth Thomson Gershoff, a psychologist and director of the Columbia University Center for the Support of Orphaned Children, examined both the positive and negative aspects of corporal punishment. Her findings, alongside various reports, were published in the American Psychological Research Journal in July 2007.
This 62-year research investigated the relationship between parents’ use of physical punishment and children’s behaviors and experiences. The study analyzed immediate compliance, internalized morality, the quality of parent-child relationships, and physical harm inflicted by parents, both during childhood and later in adulthood. Additional factors such as mental health, aggression, and delinquent or antisocial behaviors in adolescence were also considered. The research further assessed instances of children and spouses being physically punished in cases where the individuals themselves had experienced corporal punishment as children.
Dr. Gershoff found a strong correlation between corporal punishment and the emotional and moral development of all children subjected to it. About 90% of these children exhibited antisocial and aggressive behaviors. The only direct effect of corporal punishment on children was immediate compliance with parents’ wishes.
The primary consequences of this type of discipline are twofold: rapid compliance by the child and physical harm inflicted upon them. Gershoff argues that these outcomes underscore the complexity of the corporal punishment debate.
In her reports, Dr. Gershoff writes: “The controversy surrounding corporal punishment escalates when considering the physical harm inflicted on children, alongside their immediate obedience to parental demands. The general consensus is that corporal punishment quickly compels children to act according to parental wishes; however, the resulting physical harm cannot be ignored. Such harm constitutes a form of parental misconduct toward the child.”
At the same time, Gershoff notes that not all children who experience corporal punishment become aggressive as adults, nor do all commit crimes. Numerous environmental factors, such as the parent-child relationship, can mitigate the negative effects of such discipline. However, evaluating all influencing factors—including parental self-reports and definitions of conventional punishment—remains challenging.
Gershoff concludes: “The effects of corporal punishment vary across families depending on frequency, severity, emotional intensity during punishment, and whether it is combined with other disciplinary methods. Different circumstances produce different outcomes and associated problems.”
Research indicates that both the frequency and severity of corporal punishment are critical. The more often and harshly a child is struck, the greater the likelihood of increased aggression. In such situations, there is also a higher risk of behavioral misconduct and compromised mental health.
While the study primarily examines the correlation between physical punishment and child behavior, it also highlights potential negative outcomes. Corporal punishment can prevent children from learning the difference between right and wrong. Fear induced by such punishment may lead them to obey in the presence of parents but act out or engage in inappropriate behaviors when unsupervised.
Commenting on Gershoff’s studies, Dr. George Holden of the University of Texas at Austin states: “Based on Gershoff’s extensive findings, corporal punishment is not only ineffective but can also cause irreparable harm. The psychology community should never endorse physical punishment as a method of child discipline.”
Some researchers argue that Gershoff’s work emphasizes extreme forms of punishment, making it difficult to draw conclusions about moderate or socially acceptable disciplinary methods.
Other scholars contend that some parents, when disciplining their children, become emotionally overwhelmed, lose control, and may unintentionally cause harm. Therefore, it is recommended that parents who cannot maintain emotional balance avoid corporal punishment, as it carries predominantly negative consequences. The debate, however, is not about whether some parents overstep but whether families should use corporal punishment at all.
Researchers also note that parents are often reluctant to report the severe punishments they administer, making it difficult to gather accurate statistics on extreme corporal punishment.
Until researchers, clinical experts, and parents can conclusively demonstrate the benefits of corporal punishment—even assuming no negative effects exist—psychologists cannot recommend it as a disciplinary method. At the same time, parents should be cautioned about the potential harms of physical punishment.
