The Psychology of Child Aggression and Child Abuse - Essay Example

? Joan Durrant Introduction A researcher is fundamentally regarded as a scholar who reveals specific expertise or knowledge through effective experience as well as learning. The works of a researcher are to create superior quality of papers and written works relating to a particular research. In this similar context, Dr. Joan Durrant who is recognized to be an Associate Professor relating to the field of Family Social Sciences and a Child-Clinical Psychologist conducted a research which is principally based upon physical punishment of children. The significant research of Durrant concentrates on various dimensions such as cultural, legal and psychological frameworks of corporal punishment of children in Canada and worldwide. Moreover, the research works of Dr. Durrant emphasizes upon prohibiting physical maltreatment of children. The research also provides an adequate support within the context of disciplinary approach that is taken into concern towards preventing the children from any sort of physical maltreatment. The studies of Durrant are applied in different parts of Canada, Sweden and Germany that provides elimination of corporal punishment of children by a significant level (University of Manitoba, 2012). The paper intends to discuss the detailed research works that conducted by Dr. Joan Durrant. Moreover, the linkage of the research of Dr. Durrant with the developmental health perspective and certain recommendations that would enhance the quality of care children will also be depicted in this paper. Explanation of the Research Conducted By Joan Durrant The dimensions relating to physical punishment or maltreatment of children have been observed from previous few years and are regarded to be an important concern in the context of international affairs. According to various researches, it has been noted that physical or corporal punishment has been raised considerably in the year 1990. The research works of Dr. Durrant that emphasize upon restricting physical maltreatment of children can be better explained by concerning the below mentioned facts (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). According to Durrant and Ensom, it has been observed that different controls such as socio-economic status as well as parental stress trace out the initial level of the different behavioral aspects of the children. Moreover, it has also been viewed that the physical punishment or maltreatment of children belonging to the age group of six to nine years result increased levels of antisocial behavior with the application of different controls. In this regard, the controls may include family or socio-economic status and emotional support levels among others. The aforementioned study further indicates that physical punishment is a major factor of jeopardy for rising aggression in children that compels them to perform antisocial behaviors (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). The research works conducted by Durrant & Ensom are related to the significant aspect of child aggression. The works in the research observes connectivity between physical punishment and psychological aspects. It has been viewed that physical punishment is related with wide ranging mental health related difficulties of children, youths and adults that include sadness, grief, anxiety, use of drugs and alcohol among others. Moreover, the researchers also observed that physical punishment or maltreatment is mainly connected with mental development of children that ultimately affects in the educational development of the individuals or rather the children. From the perspective of the development of children, it has been observed that the studies relating to neuroimaging played an imperative part. In this regard, the studies linked with neuroimaging suggest that physical punishment can lessen the volume of grey matter of brain in relation to different development areas of children. It can be stated that physical punishment can cause significant changes in dopaminergic regions that are related with susceptibility towards the ill-treatment of drugs and alcohol. On the basis of the above discussion, it can be contemplated that the impact of hostile experiences of childhood on certain neurological, cognitive, emotional as well as social development has altogether provided a good genesis on the research work provided by the researchers (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). According to Durrant & Ensom, numerous studies were conducted to determine the conceptions and relevant ideas of physical punishment along with child aggression by taking into concern different sort of variables. Moreover, every satisfactory study conducted on the basis of meta-analysis identified the existence of similar relationship between the two major variables, i.e. physical punishment and child aggression. In a randomized controlled experiment relating to the planning of decreasing physical punishment, different members of the family were made competent by taking proper care of the children. Moreover, physical punishment has a direct as well as unpremeditated effect upon the development as well as the quality of care of the children on a significant level (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). From the above statements, it can be concluded that deliverance of proper support to children through imparting better education can decrease their physical punishment by a greater extent. It can also be affirmed that most of the programs which have been taken into concern are primarily based upon the behavioral aspects that are produced in the workings of Durrant and Ensom. Moreover, in the programs, parents are taught the mechanism of observing children’s behavior, interconnect with them and identify their lacunas. The valuable method of meta-analysis relating to the research study of Durrant and Ensom provides certain effective programs that reveal positive effects on the capability, effectiveness along with the mental health of the children (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). Linkage between Research and Development Health Perspective The developmental health perspectives can be noted as an important aspect in the scientific approach of early development of children. Moreover, focusing on the developmental health viewpoint, the study relating to Science of Early Child Development provides different researches related to the context that includes brain development, coping as well as competence, communication as well as learning, bionetwork of childhood and development of health of children. These five dimensions for development of children health needs a brief elaboration which have been provided hereunder. Brain Development This dimension provides most extensive research for development of brain relating to the growth of health perspective. Different facets like genetic embedding and epigenetics are considered to be much beneficial for children which determines genetic factors that is quite required towards shaping better improvement of children (Jamieson, Bertrand, Ibrahim, Elfenbaum & Koshyk, 2008). Coping and Competence This dimension is considered as key concepts that include self-regulation. It replicates how children would mitigate the challenges and cope up with any tough situation (Jamieson, Bertrand, Ibrahim, Elfenbaum & Koshyk, 2008). Communicating and Learning This dimension provides a description or an observation regarding how children think and learn different topics related to the language, literature and mathematics among others that could help them develop their skills and make them competent in every tough situation (Jamieson, Bertrand, Ibrahim, Elfenbaum & Koshyk, 2008). Ecology and Childhood The context of ecology and childhood represents initial life of children that includes family life, initial programs of childhood, communities as well as policies of government. The impact of positive involvements towards the above mentioned aspects is considered as a guiding principle for enhancing the capabilities and the responsibility of young children towards their desired objectives (Jamieson, Bertrand, Ibrahim, Elfenbaum & Koshyk, 2008). Developmental Health Developmental Health provides an explanation about how early life of childhood has provided a long term impact upon the individuals and the society as a whole. In this similar context, observation is needed to notice how these aspects respond in different societies and to the needs of individuals that could make a difference in providing a better developmental process of the individuals (Jamieson, Bertrand, Ibrahim, Elfenbaum & Koshyk, 2008). The linkage between researches provided by Dr. Durrant and development health perspective imposed significant impact upon the growth of the children by a significant level. In this regard, various institutions such as The Canadian Paediatric Society and The American Academy of Pediatrics provide much attention with reference to the fact that physical punishment or maltreatment of children is of limited efficacy and has the potential to impose lethal effects. It is therefore suggested that parents should be invigorated in the development of children by executing methods that are beneficial which would support them to mitigate any sort of negative outcomes. Moreover, it has been noticed that these institutions broadly favored abolition of all forms of viciousness against children including corporal punishment. In this regard, the notion of corporal punishment has affected regarding certain alterations in the mindset of the individuals worldwide, resulting changes in the legal, political as well as attitudinal aspects of human behavior. It has been observed that many countries are supporting the abolition of corporal punishment and the parents are protecting their children by imparting necessary education that could provide them a better future (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). In the context related to developmental health perspective, it has been observed that the researchers, i.e. Durrant and Ensom, executed the method of meta-analysis considering the programs that are related to the development of childhood provided. The research work conducted by Durrant and Ensom imposed considerable impact upon the competence, efficacy and mental aspects of children as well as the parents in particular. In relation to the developmental health perspective, it can also be noted that focusing upon imparting effective education and learning is quite necessary for the development of childhood. Besides, in the research conducted by the researchers, it has also been observed that especially the physicians possess the responsibility to render the research framework into guiding principle for both parents and children for the development of children. Physicians can also help in child development through decrement of anger of parents that could eventually effect upon the progress of children by a significant level (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). With regard to developmental health perspective, the researchers investigated that there exist certain differences in the context related to corporal punishment with different behavioral outcomes that cause depression and anxiety among children and in turn affect their overall developmental aspect by a greater extent. In this similar context, it can be stated that imparting necessary education, learning as well as knowledge to the children by the parents would ultimately develop and prevent corporal punishment or maltreatment of children at large. This particular practice would also provide effective functioning of children in the development process (Tucci, Mitchell & Goddard, 2006). Recommendations There exist numerous recommendations or applications related to the research conducted by Durrant and Ensom that would improve the quality of care of the children by a greater extent. In this regard, one of the important applications would be the support of the parents in the development of their children offering better education facilities along with effective knowledge and learning. This particular application would ultimately lessen the corporal punishment or maltreatment of children that occurs in various parts across the globe at large. Moreover, it is the parents who develop the competence, ability and mental health of their children. This activity of the parents would eventually help the children to be quite competent enough and mitigate any tough situation (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). Another recommendation or application can be the support of the instructors or the teachers whose responsibility would be to provide proper guidance to the parents and their children suggesting them that proper educational activities and correct behavioral attitudes would decrease aggression and can minimize the corporal punishment or maltreatment. Moreover, the active support of the teachers or the instructors would eventually improve the quality of care of the children experiencing with corporal punishment at large (Durrant & Ensom, 2012). It has been observed that physical punishment has broadly effected upon the advancement of children. In other words, it can be stated that the children became much aggressive in their attitudes that acts as a barrier in their development as a successful individual by a great extent. It is the responsibility of the parents to support their children and provide them better alternatives in order to come up efficiently from the complex situations to perform in an effective manner. However, proper caring and good grooming is required for children that would lead towards a successful life along with greater enhancement in the quality of care of the children (Gershoff, 2008). Conclusion The significant research works of Dr. Durrant have been mainly associated with physical punishment or maltreatment of children that occurred over the previous few decades in various regions throughout the globe. Moreover, the research also emphasized cultural, legal and psychological dimensions related to corporal punishment of children. In this similar context, Dr. Durrant identified that this particular concern, i.e. physical punishment or corporal punishment affected the development of the children by a considerable level. In order to reduce the increased level of physical punishment that is occurring in different regions across the globe, certain effective applications need to be adopted. In this regard, the parents of the children have to play an imperative part in the development of their children along with enhancing their quality of care by a greater extent. The parents need to be much supportive in upbringing the children with better knowledge, competence and unfairness among others in order to lead them a good and successful life. For developing the behavioral aspects of the children, it is required for the parents at home and teachers or instructors at schools to provide better teaching with regard to education, behavior, control and manners in such a way so that the children can develop themselves as a successful individual in future. Thus, it can be concluded that through delivering proper knowledge related to various behavioral aspects and education, the ratio of corporal punishment or maltreatment of children can be diminished drastically. References Durrant, J., & Ensom, R. (2012). CMAJ. Retrieved from http://www.nospank.net/durrant&ensom.pdf Gershoff, E.T. (2008). Report On physical punishment in the United States: what research tells us about its effects on children. Retrieved from http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/PDFs/principles_and_practices-of_effective_discipline.pdf Jamieson, J., Bertrand, J., Ibrahim, E., Elfenbaum, M., & Koshyk, J. (2008). Science of early child development. Retrieved from http://www.scienceofecd.com/pages/about Tucci, J., Mitchell, J., & Goddard, C. (2006). Crossing the line. Retrieved from http://www.childhood.org.au/assets/files/a2c7d8d2-48f0-48aa-8a08-cbf0cf93e9b3.pdf University of Manitoba. (2012). Joan Durrant. 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