Professionals in children and families issues such as teachers and social workers are confronted with debates concerning means of instilling discipline among juveniles who express undesired behaviours. In particular, physical punishment such as spanking and slapping emerge controversial among professionals concerning their long-term effects among victims. Despite the prevalence of physical punishment through generations, today’s teachers, social workers, and psychologists explain that it influences psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, alcoholism, violence, and other associated external problems. In their attempts to understand the concept of physical abuse and its effects on the victims, professionals focus on distinguishing punishment from corporal punishment.
According to MacMillan et al. (1999) elaborate that corporal punishment includes physical abuses such as punching, slapping, spanking as well as hitting the victim. Continually, the professionals examine the spanking, slapping and other forms of physical punishments from the perspective of their perpetrators as well as the victims. Following family dynamics and diversity in a classroom, MacMillan et al. (1999) elaborate that parents and teachers should be sensitive concerning the type of physical punishment applied and the degree of its application to avoid instilling antisocial behavior among juveniles. Notably, health organizations such as the Canadian Paediatric Society, Ontario Health Organization and research from higher learning institutions illustrate that spanking and slapping influence psychiatric disorder among victims in life.
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To understand the controversies surrounding spanking and slapping among pre-schoolers, the study conducted an experiment among Ontario residents. The study involved 9953 respondents ranging from 15 to 64 years of age. Majorly, the study manipulated questionnaire research method to understand the relation between the history of spanking and psychiatric disorders expressed by victims in various settings. Results from the samples indicate the prevalence of physical punishment among juveniles at both school, at home and other social settings. According to the data presented by the U.S National Survey in 1985, 90% of the juveniles who participated in the study confessed being exposed to physical punishment such as spanking and slapping by their parents.
Additionally, 65% of the minors affirmed that they had been slapped and repeatedly spanked by their teachers at school. Further, the research sought to examine the minimum age that juveniles were exposed to physical punishment at home and school. According to MacMillan et al., 74% of the pre-schoolers who are five years old agreed that they had been spanked by their parents at home. A similar percentage of five-year-olds further confessed that their teachers frequently slap them in school. Besides interviewing minors, the study also focused on understanding the childhood experiences of adults concerning the relationship between spanking and future psychiatric disorders. Notably, the study randomly selected 80% adult respondents who were questioned about their experiences concerning spanking at an early age. Interestingly, all the adults interviewed in the study confessed to exposure to physical punishment by their parents.
Despite controversies surrounding physical punishment, a section of professionals recognizes its significance in instilling desirable behaviors among juveniles. According to MacMillan et al. (1999), spanking and slapping create a permanent reminder among children. For instance, a child who is spanked for stealing sugar will refrain from the act despite the urge next time. Following its effectiveness in influencing discipline among learners, Professionals have focused on distinguishing physical punishment from corporal punishment. Firstly, MacMillan et al. (1999), elaborate that physical punishment includes a physical act that is not severe enough to be considered as an abuse. For instance, slapping a minor at the back is classified as a gentle physical punishment that is not severe enough to injure a juvenile.
However, repeated spanking on the buttocks and severe slaps on sensitive areas such as the head, chest or stomach as well as the use of objects during punishment are considered as corporal punishment. Further, professionals dealing with children and families attempt to solve the puzzle facing spanking and slapping from the perspective of the person exercising the act. MacMillan et al. (1999) elaborate that the Punisher has a great influence on how the victim perceives the form of punishment. For instance, strangers who prefer physical punishment where among juveniles instil psychological disorders among them concerning the pain. Similarly, parents and teachers who frequently use spanking and slapping prompt psychiatric disorders among learners concerning the nature and conditions under which the physical punishment is perpetrated.
While proponents for spanking and slapping argue that it influences permanent reminder against undesired behaviors, the study present that contributes to psychiatric disorders among minors. Specifically, MacMillan et al. (1999) illustrate that most juveniles who are physically punished at home develop aggressive behaviors as they advanced through life. Precisely, respondents in the study explain that they expressed aggression among their siblings and peers at home and other social settings after being spanked by their parents. Similarly, most of the minors confess to resorting to violence against their peers to revenge a slap by a teacher or other superiors in the compound. Subsequently, the research reveals that physical punishment prompts psychological disorders such as withdrawal among the victims. For instance, MacMillan (1999) explains that children who are frequently slapped or spanked at home exhibit poor social behaviors because they feel prejudiced. Majorly, the leaners do not talk much and prefer handling their problems without involving others. Such juveniles are diagnosed with suicidal thoughts and other psychiatric disorders that threaten their lives.
Spanking and slapping encounter controversies among professionals dealing with children and families concerning their effects among victims. The research involved a study among residents of Ontario who appear between 5 to 64 years old. The study illustrates that minors who are exposed to physical punishments such as spanking express undesired behaviors such as violence. Despite its prevalence in school and at homes, professionals observe that physical punishment such as spanking influence psychiatric disorders among victims as they advance through life.
Reference
MacMillan, H. L., Boyle, M. H., Wong, M. Y. Y., Duku, E. K., Fleming, J. E., & Walsh, C. A. (1999). Slapping and spanking in childhood and its association with lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a general population sample. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 161 (7), 805-809.
