In a violent society, violence is used to control violence - Straus
                            Straus, M. (1994). Beating the devil out of them. New York: Lexington

I. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: The application of an aversive stimulus on the body of a person with the intent to cause physical pain for the purpose of having that person terminate a p articular behavior or refrain from repeating it in the future. It is often given in the spirit of revenge and meant to instill fear; a form of coercive power assertion

II. ADULT CORRELATES OF SPANKING: Children who were spanked frequently are (St raus, 1994) :

1. Four times as likely to hit their spouses later in life
2. More likely to have thoughts of suicide
3. More likely to be aroused by sadomasochistic sex
4. More likely to engage in viole nt crime
5. Less likely to obtain a high-level job with a high income
6. More likely to develop a sense of powerlessness, depression  and a lack of internalized moral standards
7. More likely to be labeled as discipline problems in s chool

1. Having two parents increases the likelihood of being struck
2. Boys tend to be hit more than girls and mothers do most of the hitting where a daughter is involved
3. That the qualities instilled in a person who is hit are counter to those that make a good employee
4. Self-controlled adults were rarely or never hit as children
5. Even infrequent hitting can do harm because of the level of violence that can accompany it. Once is too much.
6. Twenty five percent of teenagers are hit by their parents
7. More than 90 percent of Americans use corporal punishment on toddlers
8. One fifth of American parents hit their infan t children
9. States in which teachers are allowed to hit children have a higher rate of student violence and murder rate
10. Middle class parents hit more than upper or lower class parents

 

1. Eighty four to 97 percent of parents admitted to the use of physical punishment on their children
2. Children who were severely punished often run away,drop out of school, or turn to alcohol and drugs
3. Punished babies were more likely to grasp breakable objects and less likely to obey restrictions and explore their environment
4. One out of four children are at risk of serious injury from parents using kicks, bites, punches, burns, beatings, and threats with,

    or use of, guns or knives
5. Children who have authoritarian and controlling parents are more hostile, aggressive, and disruptive when an adult is not nearby
6. Families in which parents frequently use punishment often produce hyperaggressive and hyperactive children
7. One third of children between the ages of 15 and 17 are hit by their parents

                                 DISCIPLINE                      VERSUS         PUNISHMENT

                                 -is instructive                                        -is retributive
                                 -leads to self-control                             -leads to overt compliance
                                 -relies on induction                               -relies on coercion
                                 -is prosocial                                          -is antisocial
                                 -uses reason                                          -uses emotion (anger, fear)
                                 -includes the child                                 -excludes the child
                                 -is democratic                                        -is autocratic
                                 -is preventive                                         -is corrective
                                 -has lasting effects                                 -has temporary effects
                                 -has no negative side effects                    -has many  negative side effects
                                 -consequences known ahead                    -comes out of nowhere
                                                         of time
                                  -empowers the child                               -makes the child feel powerless
                                  -is based on brains                                 -is based on brawn
 
 
 
 
 

I V. ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENT METHODS OF CHILD MANAGEMENT:

1. DEVELOPING THE RELATIONSHIP

1. DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE HOME AND SCHOOL

1. COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

1. PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS:

1. OTHER:

V. POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF NONVIOLENT BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT:

A. Less Crime
B. Less Domestic A buse
C. Less Mental Illness
D. Fewer Suicides
E. Less Violence
F. Higher Productivity