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AP: Spanking children fuels aggression, anxiety
Child Development, November/December 2005 (via Yahoo! news) ^ | 11/21/2005 | Megan Rauscher

Posted on 11/21/2005 10:25:57 AM PST by Barney59

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who are spanked when they misbehave are more likely to be anxious and aggressive than children who are disciplined in nonphysical ways, research shows. This is true even if spanking is the "cultural norm."

Whether parents should spank their children or use other forms of physical discipline is controversial. Some experts argue that children should not be spanked when they act out citing evidence that it leads to more, rather than fewer, behavior problems and it could escalate into physical abuse. There are data to support this argument.

Other experts, however, argue that the effects of spanking and physical discipline might depend on the characteristics of the child and family and the circumstances in which it is used.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Education; Society
KEYWORDS: aggression; ap; children; discipline; drdobson; parenting; psychology; spanking
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I look forward to Dr. Dobson's comments regarding this... He's already spoken out against such studies...
1 posted on 11/21/2005 10:25:57 AM PST by Barney59
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To: Barney59

Spare the stick and......


2 posted on 11/21/2005 10:28:36 AM PST by indcons ("Not all muslims are terrorists; however, all terrorists today are muslims." - George Fernandez)
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To: Barney59

I bet TO was spanked.


3 posted on 11/21/2005 10:28:44 AM PST by b4its2late (GITMO is way too nice of a place to house low life terrorists.)
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To: Barney59
No BullSh!t
4 posted on 11/21/2005 10:32:26 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Rush agrees with me 98.5% of the time!)
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To: Barney59
Some experts argue that children should not be spanked when they act out citing evidence that it leads to more, rather than fewer, behavior problems and it could escalate into physical abuse.

Whatever. It appears to me that too many parents are sparing the rod these days. Watching teenagers use foul language right in front of the parent(s) has become the norm. And here I am, a full grown adult, and I can't even make my mouth form the words to speak such language in front of my folks.


5 posted on 11/21/2005 10:36:01 AM PST by rdb3 (Wheelchair? What wheelchair?)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Barney59

7 posted on 11/21/2005 10:38:18 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (Flibbertygibbit.)
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To: Barney59
Did my brothers or I show out in public? No way!
Did we talk back to our parents? Unthinkable!
Did we talk back to teachers or anyone elder? Nuh uhh!
We knew that my Dad's size twelve would be planted firmly up the ...
We misbehaved as do all children. But we knew respect. And when an elder talked, we shut up.
8 posted on 11/21/2005 10:49:58 AM PST by HOTTIEBOY (Maybe in your house. Not in mine.)
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To: Motherbear

Agreed, everything in moderation... But love is the key!


9 posted on 11/21/2005 11:01:09 AM PST by Barney59 (I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.)
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To: Barney59

i was spanked as a child, as was my older sister, as were my parents, and their parents. we all turned out well. my youngest sister as well as my father's youngest sister were the least punished, and subsequently the ones that cannot take care of themselves, and have gotten into the most trouble in life.
my 2 year old is learning that if she does something wrong, she gets one warning, and then a spanking. she is also learning that she does not like them. in the last few days, she has come and apologised a couple times for doing something wrong before i even caught her.


10 posted on 11/21/2005 11:03:14 AM PST by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
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To: Barney59

The study was on only 336 mothers and their chilren, none in the U. S. And in those countries where the cocial norm involves physical discipline, the relationship was weaker than in the other countries.

IOW, inadequate research to draw such conclusions from.


11 posted on 11/21/2005 11:04:43 AM PST by savedbygrace
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To: Barney59

As the parent of a 7-year old, I can't imagine ever spanking my kid.

There are so many other ways to negatively reinforce undesirable behavior, that I have never found it necessary to resort to this tactic.

Many Freepers say they were spanked as children, and it didn't do them harm. Maybe so. I'm not in a position to judge.

But I know that I just don't have it in me to hit my child with sufficient force to cause real pain -- which is what would be required for the "punishment" to be effective.

Moreover, what happens during the teen-age years, when the child is old enough, strong enough and angry enough to hit back?

If corporal punishment is the normal means of discipline, I think at some point it must necessarily become counter-productive and lose its effectiveness.

In fact, I think spanking ultimately indicates a parent's failure and lack of control. Instilling momentary fear of physical punishment in a kid over time has to create a long-term lack of respect, mistrust and resentment towards the parent.

And I think that as the child matures, the repercussions of that are not worth the momentary appearance of control a parent may gain by administering a spanking.

Flame away if you must, but I just don't get it.


12 posted on 11/21/2005 11:04:46 AM PST by Maceman (Fake but accurate -- and now double-sourced)
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To: Maceman

No flames from me.


13 posted on 11/21/2005 11:08:15 AM PST by najida (OK, so I have a new obsession. Ain't life grand :))
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To: Maceman

I wonder what you did in response to demands accompanied by screaming fits, the sort of thing younger-than-7's often resort to. A good quick swat always seemed to do the trick for me, and now, when my extremely well-mannered 7-year-old sees kids acting that way, she comments, "If I acted like that, I'd land on the other side of Pluto."


14 posted on 11/21/2005 11:09:24 AM PST by madprof98
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To: Fierce Allegiance

Maddox rules!


15 posted on 11/21/2005 11:10:56 AM PST by Xenalyte ("Every day should be the best day ever!" -Frank DellaPenna, Cast in Bronze)
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To: Barney59

Retarded people - kids and adults - are effectively disciplined by their counselors while under massive legal threat for any physical punishment.

Same goes for the very old and mentally-gone elderly who become.... "stubborn". But watch the lawyers pounce at any sign of negative re-enforcement, even a light smack.

I'm not against harsh punishment, I just think it should come from your drill instructor - not someone you love.


16 posted on 11/21/2005 11:11:21 AM PST by SteveMcKing ("I was born a Democrat. I expect I'll be a Democrat the day I leave this earth." -Zell Miller '04)
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To: Maceman

Spare the rod, spoil the child.


17 posted on 11/21/2005 11:11:44 AM PST by diamond6 (Everyone who is for abortion has already been born. Ronald Reagan)
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To: Barney59

They say the same thing about rooting out terrorists. It only makes them more angry. Life is hard.


18 posted on 11/21/2005 11:12:22 AM PST by jw777
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To: Barney59

Moderation is the best way to handle parenting. The kids who are the most likely to be aggressive and misbehave are either the ones who have never been disciplined and have no limits set on them, or the ones who are punished too harshly and consequently become angry and rebellious.

To paraphrase a great conservative hero, "Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue, but moderation in parenting is a very strong virtue."


19 posted on 11/21/2005 11:12:39 AM PST by JillValentine (Conservatives put their boots on a terrorist's ass. Liberals put their lips on a terrorist's ass.)
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To: Maceman
I think the use of discipline has to be uniquely tailored to the child. Our oldest boy is VERY strong willed and defiant.. since birth so the 'threat' of a spanking has helped us keep him focused on what's right and wrong... then our second is the gentlest, sweetest little fellow who just cries at the threat of the naughty corner...

We subscribe to Dr. Dobson's tutelage...
20 posted on 11/21/2005 11:21:11 AM PST by Barney59 (I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.)
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