Spanking is a hot-button issue, dividing both parents and experts into camps armed with a multitude of arguments, anecdotes, studies, and references.
Social scientists, counsellors, and medical practitioners are often unequivocally opposed to spanking because of studies showing connections between spanking and behaviour problems. Recent studies show that the majority of American parents spank their children and spank often-even though these same parents say they spank only occasionally. Studies also show that if and when spanking does not work immediately, too many parents become abusive.
Some parents are unequivocally in favour of spanking because they see it as a necessary means of controlling and teaching children. In many cultures, spanking is common practice, either because of religious beliefs, family traditions, or shared values. Some believe it works if not done impulsively or in anger.
While we do not regard all instances of spanking as abusive, we believe that spanking is not a good tactic for managing behaviour problems. First we worry about it doing possible harm: not just physical harm, but a more subtle harm, because it increases fear as a factor in children’s relationships with their parents.
Second, as a tactic, spanking may work to maintain order and safety in the short term., but it does not work to promote positive development. Because it often yields immediate results, parents who spank say” it works”. But spanking does not help children engage in problem solving. It does not help them internalize parents’ values.
And it does not work to curb bad behaviour in the long term; in fact, the evidence suggests that spanking may exacerbate some behaviour problems ad lead to other problems as children grow. After all, if it really were effective you would not have to do it more than once or twice.