It took 50 years, but we've determined that spanking isn't good for kids

April 25, 2016 7:44 PM

Spanking is evidently not good for kids. "The more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and to experience increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems and cognitive difficulties, according to a new meta-analysis of 50 years of research on spanking by experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan." (The full study can be purchased here.)
posted by HuronBob (9 comments total)

Science has told parents to vaccinate their children to literally stop them from dying. More science telling parents not to take a doubled-over belt to the back of their child's legs will unfortunately have zero impact. The fact of the matter is that most people who have children aren't qualified for the job.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:02 PM on April 25, 2016 [3 favorites]

turbid dahlia, I don't disagree with your statement. But, it will be great, after years of hearing parents say that a "smack now and then doesn't hurt anything, my dad smacked me and look how I turned out", to be able to bring out the article and say.. "Oh, yes it does...being beaten may have been an influence in the fact that you now beat YOUR kids...here's the research.... now CUT IT OUT!"
posted by HuronBob at 8:10 PM on April 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Gershoff's spanking research is marred by its refusal to make relevant distinctions. As it turns out, "conditional, open-handed spanking for children between two and six years old is associated with positive outcomes later in life." Cite cite
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:13 PM on April 25, 2016

These findings will be suppressed by Big Hand.
posted by scruss at 8:17 PM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]

But, it will be great, after years of hearing parents say that a "smack now and then doesn't hurt anything, my dad smacked me and look how I turned out"

Oh, I concur. It's one of the (many) reasons I haven't had kids: I'm afraid of turning out like my dad.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:19 PM on April 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

I think spanking is OK. Spanking emotively, not so much.
posted by atomicmedia at 8:22 PM on April 25, 2016

I think spanking is OK.

Science seems to disagree.
posted by Anonymous at 8:27 PM on April 25, 2016

Science seems to disagree.

only part of the time
posted by atomicmedia at 8:31 PM on April 25, 2016

marred by its refusal to make relevant distinctions

aka "didn't reach the conclusion I wanted"
posted by RogerB at 8:34 PM on April 25, 2016