Why physical punishment is unacceptable - Essay Example

Physical Punishment Physical Punishment There has been a controversial debate on physical punishment with most people arguing that physical punishment is unacceptable. Physical punishment is basically used by parents in the early years of a child’s life until they are 8 to 10 years. Although there has been a decline in the use of physical punishment, there are a number of discussions that still look at the efficiency of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure. Only a few regions view physical punishment as a form of child abuse (Dorpat, 2007).

Others state that corporal punishment is allowed if it does not lead into any form of physical, emotional or psychological harm. Statistics reveal that almost 90 percent of the parents support physical punishment. Smacking occurs when children are more than four years old (Dorpat, 2007). It has also been observed that physical punishment is widespread across poor families and minorities. Besides from corporal punishment, scolding, yelling and swearing have detrimental effects n children. This paper discusses two negative side effects of physical punishment among children.

Antisocial Behavior One of the major effects of corporal punishment among children is the likelihood of children to develop antisocial behavior. This is one of the emotional and psychological effects of physical punishment (Saunders and Goddard, 2009). Physical punishment is based on aggression and this leads to violent behavior by both the parent and the child. The child could channel this aggression and violence to their classmates resulting into bullying and violence in school. Other forms of negative behavior such as stealing, cheating or lying can be observed from children who have a history of physical punishment (Dorpat, 2007).

The intended effect of physical punishment is discipline that is reversed in the long- run. Spanking and smacking have proven to be ineffective methods of instilling positive behavior. In the worst cases, physical punishment leads to resentment, anger and esteem issues. Additionally, physical punishment instills fear in children and cannot appropriately express themselves.Negative Impacts on Relationships Secondly, corporal punishments negatively impacts on how children relate with other individuals in society.

Physical punishment instills fear especially in young children and some parents mistake this for respect. They end up eliminating any chances of establishing a positive and healthy relationship with their children (Saunders and Goddard, 2009). These children often rebel against their parents’ instructions and isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Additionally, these children have violent relationships with their siblings as they have the tendency to solve their differences through fighting (Dorpat, 2007).

Children who undergo corporal punishment are likely to be victims or perpetrators of bullying in the school setting. They may exhibit violent behavior or exhibit helplessness making them easy targets for bullies. Finally, children who experience physically punishment have trouble making friends since they find it hard to trust anyone. In summary, the above discussion clearly shows the negative impacts of physical punishment among children. What is worse is that the practice is still widely practiced in spite of its ineffectiveness as a disciplinary measure and the numerous negative side effects associated with it.

The practice should be banned and parents should come up with alternative methods of punishing their children. ReferencesDorpat, T. L. (2007). Crimes of punishment: America’s culture of violence. Algora Publishing. Saunders, B. J., & Goddard, C. (2009). Physical punishment in childhood: The rights of the child. John Wiley & Sons.