Ineffectiveness of physical punishment

How do you help a child understand that certain behaviours are unacceptable? How do you discipline them when they are out of control, or are behaving badly? An “old-school” answer to this question could be “give them a slap on the buttocks, and they’ll understand”.

However, research about physical punishment has repeatedly proven, that it is not only ineffective, but also harmful to children. Other than the obvious disadvantages - such as both physical and emotional pain caused by physically punishing a child - there is a variety of adverse effects of physical punishment that a many are unaware of.

Before you retrieve to the thought of “well I was hit as a child as I turned out fine”, read on to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of physical punishment.

Firstly, we should examine the reasons parents use physical punishment. Is it to improve a child’s behaviour in the long-term? Or perhaps to immediately interrupt a behaviour? Or is it to set some boundaries, by showing the child what is unacceptable? The reason why these questions are important, is because punishment is usually used to direct, reinforce, or prevent a behaviour. In all these cases, research clearly proves that physical punishment is severely ineffective.

In fact, research refers to some important points about why physical punishment is ineffective, and what problems it can create.

Short term behaviour (compliance) does not necessarily improve with physical punishment

A common misconception about physical punishment is that it makes undesirable behaviour slowly fade away, and thus effectively solving the problem. Studies have shown that undesirable behaviour (in the short-term) might decrease only in front of the person who punishes the child - due to fear; the child will develop better skills at hiding their negative behaviours.

Furthermore, the child is likely to revert to avoidance behaviours and try not to get caught by the person who exerts the punishment. This research can hopefully lead parents to think: “Do we want out children to fear us and hide from us, or do we want them to be able to learn and be able to manage their behaviour effectively?”

Spanking (or other forms of physical punishment) can harm the parent-child relationship

The relationship we form with our child in their early years of life and throughout development is critical for their behaviour, beliefs and well-being in the future. This is known as an attachment bond, and it often determines how a child will create bonds with other people.

Studies show that secure attachment (the healthiest attachment style) is associated with positive interactions between the parent and child, as well as a warm and gentle bond between them. On the contrary, physical punishment and harsh interactions are negatively associated, meaning that they do not often lead to a secure attachment style.

Physical punishment teaches children aggressiveness and a specific pathway to discipline

Studies indicate that children who are physically punished show an increase in aggressive behaviour over time; it might seem like bad behaviour causes punishment somehow. However, researchers point out that physical punishment also ultimately creates worsening behaviours. Bad behaviour provokes physical punishment, and physical punishment makes negative behaviour more likely to occur.

In addition, adults who were disciplined through physical punishment when young, tend to revert to physical punishment towards their own children as a means of discipline. This shows us that physical punishment leads to a way of thinking that supports physical intervention as the way to solve problems.

Although physical punishment has been used for decades around the world, it seems to have been ineffective and to have been causing a variety of problems. A lot of other more effective, and ethical techniques have been introduced and now increasingly used to teach and discipline children during childhood.

You can read more about similar themes in my previous posts, including setting boundaries with children, what to do after a tantrum, and useful phrases for after you - the parent - have lost it