Corporal Punishment

1. Corporal Punishment Kellee Manley CJ601 Spring 2006

2. Introduction The use of corporal punishment is one of the most controversial parenting practices. When examining corporal punishment many individuals look at the act of spanking a child and the effects the act might have on that child. There are many supporters for and against the use of spanking and corporal punishment.

3. Definitions Corporal Punishment Physical punishment administered to a convicted offender and including the death penalty (American Heritage, 1976) A discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child�s unacceptable behavior and/or inappropriate language (Andero & Stewart, 2002) The use of physical force aimed at causing children to experience pain, but not injury, for the purposes of correction and control of youthful behavior (Day et al, 1998)

4. Definitions Cont� Spanking To slap on the buttocks with a flat object or with the open hand as punishment (American Heritage, 1976) Striking a child with an open hand on the buttocks or extremity with the intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury (Rizzo, 2002) One of many disciplinary responses available to parents intended to shape appropriate behavior and to be used in combination with primary responses such as restraint, natural and logical consequences, time-out, and restriction of privileges (Spare the Rod, 1996)

5. Definitions Cont� Discipline Punishment intended to correct or train (American Heritage, 1976) The action a parent takes at the time his or her child is misbehaving (Socolar & Stein, 1995) The system of teaching and nurturing that prepares children to achieve competence, self-control, self-direction, and caring for others (Roberts, 2002)

6. Controversy There has been numerous research studies conducted on corporal punishment/spanking. Supporters of corporal punishment and spanking will find many studies that verify that its use does not have negative effects on children. Those that oppose the use of corporal punishment and spanking will also find many studies that confirm their beliefs that its use have many negative effects on children.

7. Support for Corporal Punishment/Spanking There is no evidence in the medical literature that a mild spank to the buttocks of a disobedient child by a loving parent teaches the child aggressive behavior. (Spare the Rod, 1996) Spanking is not associated with later violence, psychopathology, or abuse when used infrequently as part of a larger repertoire of noncorporal disciplinary strategies and in the context of a loving relationship between child and parent involving young children. (Saadeh, 2002) Harsh corporal punishment, when used on adolescents, was not related to measures of aggressiveness, delinquency, or psychological well-being when other parental behaviors were taken into account. (Day et al, 1998) Numerous scriptural passages support the claim that corporal punishment is the primarily biblically ordained response to overt challenges to parental authority. (Anderno & Stewart, 2002)

8. Opposition for Corporal Punishment/Spanking Babies and toddlers are especially unlikely to be able to make any connection between their behavior and physical punishment. (Pendley, 2005) It leads to more aggressive behavior in school, substance abuse, anger as an adult, and marital problems. (Rizzo, 2002) Spanking is a statistically significant predictor of subsequent antisocial behavior, even in children who may be spanked only once a week. (Kirchner, 1998) Physical punishments give children pain and may teach them it is all right to inflict pain on others. (Walsh, 2002) The more corporal punishment experienced, the greater the probability of hitting a wife or husband later in life. (Straus, 2001)

9. Research Topic Do Police Officers in Southeast Missouri support or oppose spanking children as a form of punishment?

10. Subjects 50 Police Officers from Southeast Missouri will make up the sample The Officers will each have at least one child between the age of 15 months and 10 years. The Officers will be from these City Departments: Sikeston Jackson Cape Girardeau Poplar Bluff Kennett Ten Officers will be included from each department. 8 Male Officers 2 Female Officers

11. Methods The Officers will begin by participating in a 20 minute interview. The interview will address many issues such as: Married/Single/Divorced Race Poverty/Middle Class/Upper Class Education level Family History on spanking How many children? How Old? Support/Oppose Spanking? Utilize Spanking with children? How often in the last week? How often in the last month? How do you spank? Where/When/With What Were you angry, under control, out of control� Why did you spank?

12. Methods Cont� After the initial interview, the Police Officer will be asked to keep a �Spanking Diary� for one month. The Officer will be encouraged to include his/her spouse in this process. Recorded in the Diary should be: Every spanking incident When it took place, where, why What was actually done and who did it How the child reacted to the punishment How the adult reacted to the punishment How the adult was feeling at the time the punishment was given

13. Methods Cont� The last thing the Police Officer will participate in is an exit interview. This interview will cover several issues such as: The differences between the responses on the first interview and the entries in the diary What the Officer thinks about the differences Why there might be differences

14. Procedures The initial interviews will take place individually in a private office at each of the Police Departments. The interviewer will spend one week collecting interviews. Monday � interviews in Kennett Tuesday � interviews in Poplar Bluff Wednesday � interviews in Sikeston Thursday � interviews in Cape Girardeau Friday � interviews in Jackson

15. Procedures Cont� The Officers will be allowed 4 weeks (28 days) to fill out the �Spanking Diaries The day that the diaries are collected by the interviewer, the exit interview will take place. Monday -- collection and exit interviews in Kennett Tuesday � collection and exit interviews in Poplar Bluff Wednesday � collection and exit interviews in Sikeston Thursday � collection and exit interviews in Cape Girardeau Friday � collection and exit interviews in Jackson After the interviews and diaries have been collected they will be reviewed and compared.

16. Conclusion This is the basis for my research proposal. The idea needs a lot of fine tuning. I do believe though that if the research was indeed conducted the results would be interesting. I believe this because the sample will be one that has not been studied much in relation to this topic and it would be interesting to see how the results turn out compared to other studies.

17. References The American heritage Dictionary of the English Language. (1976). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. Andero, Abraham A. and Allen Stewart. (2005). Issue of corporal punishment: re-examined. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 29, 90-97. Retrieved April 30, 2006 from Ebscohost: http://www.ebscohost.com. Day, Randal D., Gary W. Peterson, and Coleen McCracken. (1998). Predicting spanking of younger and older children by mothers and fathers. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 79-95. Retrieved April 20, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umi.com. Kirchner, Jeffrey T. (1998). Childhood spanking and increased antisocial behavior. American Family Physician, 57, 798. Retrieved April 20, 2006 from Ebscohost: http://www.ebscohost.com. Pendley, Jennifer S. (2005). Disciplining your child. Kids Health for Parents. Retrieved April 30, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/discipline.html. Rizzo, Christopher P. (2002). Counterpoint. Clinical Pediatrics, 41, 88-90. Retrieved April 23, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umo.com. Roberts, David G. (2002). Commentary. Clinical Pediatrics, 41, 90-91. Retrieved April 23, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umi.com. Saadeh, Wasim. (2002). Point. Clinical Pediatrics, 41, 87-88. Retrieved April 23, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umi.com. Socolar, Rebecca R.S. and Ruth E.K. Stein. (1995). Spanking infants and toddlers: maternal belief and practice. Pediatrics, 95, 105-111. Retrieved April 23, 2006 from Ebscohost: http://www.ebscohost.com. Spare the rod? New Research Challenges Spanking Critics. (1996). Family Policy. Retrieved April 30, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://people.biola.edu/faculty/paulp/spare_the_rod.htm. Straus, Murray A. (2001). New evidence for the benefits of never spanking. Society, 38, 52- 60. Retrieved April 30, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umi.com. Walsh, Wendy. (2002). Spankers and nonspankers: where they get information on spanking. Family Relations, 51, 81-88. Retrieved on April 20, 2006 from Proquest: http://proquest.umi.com.