<Institution>
THESIS: Spanking, when done according to a set of rules, should not considered as a form of child abuse because it can foster discipline and diminish unwanted behaviour.
BACKGROUND:
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, around 1,520 cases of children’s death were attributed to child abuse in the year 2013 all over United States (as cited in National Children’s Alliance, 2014).
In addition, the National Children’s Alliance (2014) reported that they served more than 290, 000 victims of child abuse in 2013, and the numbers went up to 315, 000.
Many parents, individuals, organizations, and agencies perceive spanking as a form of child abuse.
Spanking, according to developmental psychologist Elizabeth Gershoff, involves “hitting a child on the bottom with an open hand” (as cited in Narvaez, 2013).
Many researchers have argued that spanking is ineffective in changing children’s behaviour, and it can actually be damaging.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to explore the benefits of spanking and to argue that with the right usage and adherence to a set of rules, it can actually be beneficial to children; therefore, it must not always be considered as a form of child abuse.
SUPPORTING POINTS:
Fostering discipline is important in order to discourage the development of children’s undesirable behaviour, and spanking is a form of discipline.
Not all kinds of (e.g., timeouts) discipline work.
Even the most sensible and seemingly non-violent form of discipline can be damaging to children.
Through the principles of operant conditioning, spanking can be considered as a form of punishment.
When spanking follows right after the undesirable behaviour, the child will be able to associate the unpleasant stimulus (spanking) with the undesirable action he committed.
COUNTERARGUMENT:
Physical abuse on children is a serious issue, and many people argue that spanking to discipline is only a justified form of physical abuse.
Because spanking will continue to inflict physical pain on children, it may be seen as the first step or sign of child abuse.
RESPONSE TO COUNTERARGUMENT
When spanking is done incorrectly or out of anger, it is no doubt a form of child abuse, but when given at the right form, right amount, and right timing, it will not cause harmful effects that many anti-spanking advocates are arguing about.
According to a study, spanking in moderation has no significant negative effects on children (as cited in Goode, 2001). This means that as long as non-abusive parents are using it to correct an action rather than to express their anger, spanking cannot be considered as a form of child abuse.
IMPLICATIONS
In order to develop better citizens, children must receive a form of discipline in one way or another. If spanking is always associated to child abuse, even if it is given within limits, in moderation, and with utmost care, people will continue to neglect and miss its possible benefits on the attitudes and behavioural development of children.
TENTATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Armstrong, K. & Szko, C. (2014). Vikings running back Adrian Peterson turns himself in after charged in severe abuse of 4-year-old son. NY Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/vikings-rb-adrian-peterson-accused-child-abuse-article-1.1937998
Goode, E. (2001). Findings give some support to advocates of spanking. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/25/us/findings-give-some-support-to-advocates-of-spanking.html?pagewanted=all
Hampshire County Council. What is child abuse? Hampshire County Council. Retrieved from https://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/childrenandyoungpeople/child-protection/child-abuse.htm
McLeod, S. (2015). Skinner – operant conditioning. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html
Narvaez, D. (2013). Research on spanking: It’s bad for all kids. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201309/research-spanking-it-s-bad-all-kids
National Children’s Alliance (2014). National statistics on child abuse. National Children’s Alliance. Retrieved from http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/media-room/media-kit/national-statistics-child-abuse
What’s wrong with timeouts? (n.d.). Aha! Parenting. Retrieved from http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/positive-discipline/timeouts
