http://www.ministryofjustice.info/carry-on-cyber-stalking/

That’s not to mention all the stuff we do locally to make our area a more liberal (and Liberal Democrat) place!

A study on spanking was even featured on CNN’s website uncovered that spanking can lead to long – term bad behaviour and anti – social behaviour. The study interviewed the mothers of 3000 children http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/9708/14/nfm.spanking/ to compile this study.They also found out that Corporal Punishment is ineffective and was responsible for more anti – social behaviour, which would be evident in later years.

Another study conducted by Will Meek PHD also argued that spanking children had negative effects on their well being http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/02/24/negative-consequences-of-spanking/ .He found out spanking was no more effective than any other disciplinary measures which didn’t use physical force. Overall, he observed that spanking could cause emotional and behavioural problems and even increased aggression in children who would use violence to solve their problems.

By Rhys Klu

Is it ever ok to spank your child?

Spanking is a controversial subject which leaves many people divided on whether it’s ok to spank your child or not. One thing that can be said about spanking is it’s a very emotional subject. Many people have very strong views and oppinions about it. When it comes to spanking, there’s no middle ground. You either believe it’s right or wrong.

So what I have done for this month’s post is I’ve decided to look at 2 opposing views about spanking. Those in favour of spanking and those who are against spanking. Both views will be backed up by case studies to argue their case. I’ll also examine if there are any alternatives to spanking.

After that, I will give my views about whether I’m in favour of spanking or not and explain my reasons for doing so. This will be followed up with tips on how to discipline your child without spanking them. You are more than welcome to share your views on this matter by leaving your comments and discussing whether it’s ok to ever spank a child or not.

Arguments In Favour Of Spanking

Many people in favour of spanking believe it’s an effective way of disciplining a child because it acts as a deterrent to stop the child misbehaving. The child experiences pain as a reminder not to commit the offence again. Spanking itself derives some of its ideas from Capital Punishment, where if somebody has broken the law, the person would face punishment. Punishments ranged from execution, the electric chair or lethal injection. All of the methods used in Capital Punishment were designed to deter for would be criminals.

The common link between spanking and Capital Punishment is simple. They both send out a clear message about breaking the rules is: ‘Don’t do it!’ Which is followed up by punishment to make the message clear in their efforts to deter them.

Another reason why spanking is popular with those who advocate it is because it helped them to know their boundaries and respect authority. Spanking back then was used to control boundaries and give respect to authority. Some may argue that spanking even shaped them into the person they are today by knowing one’s place and being respectful to authority. The thought of rebelling against authority was unthinkable back then. Committing any of the acts above was guaranteed to be met with severe punishment, which was not even worth thinking about. The clever thing about spanking from a psychological point of view, is that it relied on fear to control a child’s actions and have the right desired effect on them. It is a well known fact that if you consciously focus on a thought long enough, the mind will intensify recreate the emotions and the actions associated with it. Take for example Hypochondriacs. They have a tendency to exaggerate minor symptoms in the belief that there is something more serious behind the illness.

It is those children who are now adults who would support spanking because it helped them to become disciplined. It’s only natural that they would use disciplinary measures that worked on them as children because it was successful in disciplining them. It is easy to see why they still use spanking to discipline children.

On January 04 2010, a study discovered some interesting findings about the benefits of spanking. http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-04/entertainment/17945428_1_parents-child-kids. It claimed that young children who were spanked by their parents performed better at school at later stage in life. Calvin College Psychology professor Marjorie Gunnoe observed that children smacked before the age of 6 grew up to be more successful. She also noted that there was not enough evidence to show that spanking harms children according to the Daily Mail.

“Why would young kids benefit from spanking while older kids were harmed by it, as Gunnoe’s research suggests?

Most parents spank young kids to keep them safe, Dennis explains. A parent may slap a toddler’s hand if they touch a hot stove, or spank a child who runs into the street. In that context, she says, a smack can be considered a way to keep a child out of danger or to assert parental authority, she says.”

Arguments Against Spanking

There are those who are against spanking because they believe it harms the child’s development and well being. They actively seek more humane ways of disciplining a child without using physical force. Some can even draw on their experiences as a child when they were spanked. They even remember the trauma and anguish it caused them as a child.

A study on spanking was even featured on CNN’s website uncovered that spanking can lead to long – term bad behaviour and anti – social behaviour. The study interviewed the mothers of 3000 children http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/9708/14/nfm.spanking/ to compile this study.They also found out that Corporal Punishment is ineffective and was responsible for more anti – social behaviour, which would be evident in later years.

Another study conducted by Will Meek PHD also argued that spanking children had negative effects on their well being http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/02/24/negative-consequences-of-spanking/ .He found out spanking was no more effective than any other disciplinary measures which didn’t use physical force. Overall, he observed that spanking could cause emotional and behavioural problems and even increased aggression in children who would use violence to solve their problems.

There was even more disturbing evidence to suggest that spanking could even lower a child’s IQ in a study conducted by Professor Murray Straus http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/spanking-long-used-by-parents-to-discipline-naughty-children-can/story-e6frf00i-1225779278575.

Professor Murray Straus is calling the U.S government to outlaw corporal punishment. A quote from Professor Murray Straus highlights the seriousness of the situation. “After studying 800 toddlers aged between two and four over a four-year period, he found those who were subjected to smacking had an IQ five points lower than that of a child who wasn’t physically disciplined.

“The results of this research have major implications for the well-being of children across the globe,” he said.

“All parents want smart children. This research shows that avoiding smacking and correcting misbehaviour in other ways can help that.”