Ten Reasons I Can't Spank by Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW

http://www.nospank.net/popcak.htm#GKP ^ | Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW

[Knock3Times]

I actually have no strong position for or against spanking, but I thought some freepers may...

[GeronL]

11. too many letters after his name

[sinkspur]

LOL!!! Popcak is the same guy who thinks it is "educational" for a teenage male sibling to "chart" his teenage sister's periods as training for Natural Family Planning.

This guy is just plain weird.

I used corporal punishment on my two boys, and they're both police officers.

Go figure.

[Loyalist]

Greg Popcak doesn't strike again!

[Knock3Times]

I used corporal punishment on my two boys, and they're both police officers.

Do you get the impression that some of the anti-spankers are kind of cultish? I may or may not spank my kids, but I do not intend to make a religion out of it.

[american colleen]

Never had to spank my kids, thank God. My dad did it to us and all I remember is hating him for it, being humiliated and just hiding bad behaviour better in the future.

[american colleen]

I don't know about cultish but there are an awful lot of parents who don't know what the hell they are doing.

I was at a birthday party today at my sister's house. Her old babysitters were there along with their mother - twin girls, both 17 and seniors in high school. One of the twins said that she got up at 7:30 this morning and had to reach over "Dave" and shut off the alarm clock. Her mother was flummoxed and said "Dave's parents let you sleep together?" Obviously the mother let the daughter sleep over at the boyfriends house and didn't talk to the boyfriends parents about it. Bad enough that she let her beautiful and buxom daughter sleep over her boyfriends, but what she said to her daughter in response was "why do you tell me these things?"

Of course part of the problem is that the mother is long divorced and just got through a five year relationship where the guy lived in the house with the mother and daughters.

[Knock3Times]

Never had to spank my kids, thank God. My dad did it to us and all I remember is hating him for it, being humiliated and just hiding bad behaviour better in the future.

I find the ten reasons given by Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW to be quite unpersuasive. They actually sound like the type of revisionist "historical Jesus" garbage that drives me nuts. On the other hand, your two short sentences make a lot of sense.

[american colleen]

I'm no fan of Mr. Popcack, ABC DEF, GHI, JKL, MNO, PQR, STU, VWX, YZ either and I guess all kids are different. I don't like to see other people's kids spanked or hit - but I don't live with them and I don't know the particular situation that sparked the spanking.

I think most of the time if you are consistant and the kids know that there are certain things you don't do plus the kids know you love them unconditionally, they will be good kids most of the time. Most of the time, that is!! ;-)

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

My dad did it to us and all I remember is hating him for it, being humiliated and just hiding bad behaviour better in the future.

I had that and worse. I do not believe in spanking. It is far too destructive. There are better ways to guide children.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

In study after study, spanking has been found to increase deceitfulness, noncompliance, oppositional/defiant behaviors and violence in children.
Research consistently demonstrates that corporal punishment creates and maintains "willful defiance" and other unmanageable behavioral problems. (Thus, the notion that "willful defiance" deserves corporal punishment is exactly counterproductive.)
Children who are spanked have lower average intelligence scores, and demonstrate poorer school performance. This is not because they are less intelligent, but because they are more reluctant to demonstrate their intelligence for fear of being 'wrong' and, as a result, harshly judged.
Spanked children show less creativity and are less inclined to take healthy and appropriate risks; yet are more likely to take inappropriate risks.
Children who are spanked demonstrate a diminished ability to say 'no' in personally demeaning or dangerous situations (including drug use and sexual situations) - especially when encouraged by peers.
Spanking has been shown to significantly increase violent/bullying behavior (especially in boys) and shyness (in girls).
Children who are spanked have higher rates of constipation of the bowels, depression, substance abuse, suicidality, anxiety, and irrational fears/phobias.
Long-term studies indicate that girls who are spanked show a greater risk of ending up in abusive marriages; boys who are spanked have a higher than average chance of becoming abusive spouses.
Adults who were spanked as children tend to be less happy in their marriages.
Adults who were spanked as children tend to reject the religion of their parents.

---

I hate to agree with Popcak but he is right. All of the above happened in my family.

[sinkspur]

Do you get the impression that some of the anti-spankers are kind of cultish?

I'm not as bothered by Popcak's not spanking his children as I am by his carrying out his reasons six decimal places. Sheesh!! Can't he just say he doesn't believe in it and be done?

But, that's why he writes books and gives lectures, because he can fill up pages and minutes with words.

(His views on Natural Family Planning are bizarre, BTW.)

[Knock3Times]

If I had to bet the house, I would probably guess I would never have to spank my children. But, I don't even know what my kids will be like. I am fairly certain that freepers will be citing dozens of scripture passages and scores of saints who support physically disciplining one's children (e.g. Padre Pio).

I'm not saying all anti-spankers are cultish. But my sister-in-law who homeschools tells me that it is the eleventh commandment among one faction of homeschoolers.

Again, I am quite undecided on the issue. I guess what irks me is this fellow trying to make the case that all Catholics must oppose spanking.

It is like smoking. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, but every time I hear an anti-smoking Nazi preach, I want to run out and buy a pack of smokes.

[autopsy]

LOL!!! Popcak is the same guy who thinks it is "educational" for a teenage male sibling to "chart" his teenage sister's periods as training for Natural Family Planning.

This guy is just plain weird.

I used corporal punishment on my two boys, and they're both police officers.

I agree with you here on all accounts.

[autopsy]

Adults who were spanked as children tend to reject the religion of their parents.

I am one of nine children who were spanked as often as we needed it. All nine kids and their spouses are faithful, practicing Catholics. I seriously doubt Popcak's "science" is scientific.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I've been a RN in pediatrics, psych and ER since 1989. I was also abused in ways I won't repeat on this thread.

I've seen it firsthand in my work and personal life. Popcak's right.

[Knock3Times]

I am one of nine children who were spanked as often as we needed it. All nine kids and their spouses are faithful, practicing Catholics. I seriously doubt Popcak's "science" is scientific.

Wow! Your parents must have done an incedible job. I know great Catholics who have no practicing Catholic children and great Catholics who have twelve practicing Catholic children. The only common thread I have found with successful parents is the Catholicity of the schools the children attended.

(BTW, the family with twelve children was renowned for its discipline and corporal punishment.)

[autopsy]

The only common thread I have found with successful parents is the Catholicity of the schools the children attended.

Thanks. My parents get the credit because we went to Diocesan schools which were horrible. The religion was so bad at the Catholic schools that my parents sent us to catechism classes at night which were taught by Catholics United for the Faith (CUF).

I think the bottom line is to be strict, pray and go to Mass as often as possible.

[autopsy]

I'm sorry you had to suffer so.