Argumentative Essay: Spanking as an Effective Method of Modifying a Child’s Behavior?

           Spanking as an Effective Method of Modifying a Child’s Behavior

                                              Introduction

          Discipline is an integral part of a child’s growth, for it is believed to contribute to their development into upright people in adulthood. However, the choice whence discipline emanates matters a lot. In this case, it is vital to assess the effectiveness of some of the disciplinary measures a parent can take against their children to ensure discipline. Arguably, spanking is one of the most famous and widely-practiced disciplinary act by a parent to their children. Though seemingly acceptable to some people, spanking is intolerable to others. To those that support the act, their decisions are based on their beliefs of the effectiveness of spanking in correcting children and cementing good values and virtues by causing pain when a child behaves incorrectly. On the other hand, opponents to spanking see this as an ineffective punishment whose negative impacts call for illegalizing the act. Spanking is not an effective method of modifying a child′s behavior as it leads to multiple negative consequences such as physical injury, poor parent-child relationship, increased aggression, externalization, and mental health problems in a child. (This is the thesis)

                               Spanking Causes Physical Injury

            According to Lenta (2012), the use of corporal punishment is associated with an increased risk of abusing the child. (this is the first reason and topic sentence) Most child abuse cases begin as corporal punishment, implying that such is likely to be the case with spanking. Though some may claim that there are lines that define the extent of spanning, one might argue that this line is nothing but vague and obscured. It is easy to cross this line considering that spanking includes physically hitting a child with the sole intent of causing them pain to warn them against a behavior. As if its definition and understanding are not enough to justify the cat’s wrongness, there is an empirical assumption that outlawing spanking will help reduce the occurrence of child abuse (Lenta, 2012). Thus, reducing child abuse becomes another incentive for outlawing spanking, seeing that even mild corporal punishment supporters agree that there is an increased association between physical abuse and spanking (Lenta, 2012). Child abuse is extremely harmful, not only to the child but also to society. As such, the harmful impacts of child abuse deem it important that governments consider banning spanking as a contributor to child abuse and a cause for physical injury. Most physical abuse occurs in the context of punishment, and it gets even more severe when the punishment diverts from correction to physical damage or injuries on the child.

             Spanking results in Poor Parent-Child Relationship

          Spanking children, especially frequently, can strain the relationship between a parent and their children.(second reason) Rather than fixing the situation, spanking worsens a child’s perspective. Spanking usually incites feelings such as fear and anger within a child. Arguably, stable and happy relationships cannot survive in such an environment. According to Dewar (2019), kids who were regularly spanked during their school years had the most acute issues and the most negative relationships with their parents. The impact of spanking on a parent’s relationship with their child comes from the disillusion of the effectiveness of physical punishment. Indeed, spanking works instantly, seeing that upon its execution, a child immediately changes their behavior. However, this effect only occurs in the short term, seeing that the long-term impacts can be more severe for lived experience is much stronger than facts (Hamblin, 2017). Hamblin (2017) claims that the few memories that most people retain from their childhood were when their parents spanked them. Though some people may believe spanking to be correct owing to their cultural backgrounds and upbringing, such is not the case since the act has damaging impacts on a child’s view of their parents and the world.

           Spanking is less effective than positive parenting as a disciplinary tactic. With the behavioral impacts of spanking on children, such as aggression, violence, depression, and anxiety, it is pretty evident that spanking is not, after all, the best discipline method, causing most parents to seek alternative approaches to discipline their children. Positive parenting encourages parents to observe their child’s behavior and employ effective communication with their children when correcting behaviors. Positive parenting has shown positive effects on competence and not only on the child's behaviors but also on the parents' psychological health. Children who receive positive training are more likely to become more cooperative and under control than spanked children. Improved parent /child relationships can be noted where children receive positive parenting than those under corporal punishment. Thus, it is only fitting to say that positive parenting may, after all, be taking a win over corporal punishment.

                 Spanking Children Makes them more Aggressive

           Children who are regularly spanked are more probable to develop aggressive behavior. In turn, aggression results in antisocial behavior. A study conducted by Altschul et al. (2016) reveals that “spanking was associated with increases in chills aggression over and above children’s initial levels of aggression” (p.709). Aggression begins early in life and is supposed to decrease as one grows older. Aggression can cause a child to act more pervasively and severely, which effectively impacts their social relationships and even can result in mental health disorders. When children become aggressive, they usually have functioning problems that include impulsivity and language problems (Keenan, 2012). Besides, aggression can cause children to be defiant and have little control over negative emotions (Keenan, 2012). Another significant impact of aggressiveness in children is that it can cause them to be excessively hyperactive. These impacts are just the tip of the iceberg of the problems that result from spanking children. As such, it is essential to consider other alternative measures for punishing children that do not contribute to a child’s aggressiveness. Further motivation for banning this form of punishment is that a child’s aggressiveness extends beyond their childhood. It is more than likely that a child will retain their aggression to their adulthood, which impacts their relationship with other people. That is, when a child is frequently spanked, the aggression they develop might stay with them or even increase, thereby affecting the people they become and how they relate to others. For instance, aggressiveness impacts people’s marriages and can contribute to violence in marriages. In light of these short and long-term impacts of spanking on a child’s aggressiveness, it is important to advocate for banning this punishment for the wellbeing of the children and their future relationships.

                     Spanking Causes Children’s Externalization

             Externalization in children is another reason why spanking should be banned. Externalization describes a child’s unconscious development of a defense mechanism through which one imposes their innate traits onto other people. Based on the developmental theory, MacKenzie et al. (2014) postulate that “harsh treatment by parents may lead to aggressive behavior on the part of children through modeling” (p.2). As such, scholarly evidence affirms that physical punishment results in externalization behavior among children as they attempt to shield themselves from harm, whether perceived or real. This assertion is based on an understanding of the lasting impacts of spanking a child, which in this case is severe enough to warrant prohibition. Spanking does not provide the child with the tools they need to correct their behavior. According to the Social information processing theory, the long-term goal of family discipline is helping the children to internalize the values and attitudes of the society that will guide their behavior. However, most parents administer punishment but fail to communicate their reason for correction. When spanking occurs, the child barely knows or understands their parent’s point of spanking them, which is typical in infant spanking. The child is probably too young and distressed to understand the disciplinary message. These may result in fear as the child does not understand why the sudden harsh response from the only person they are familiar with or love. Spanking does not teach them how to control their impulses or provide them with insights on negotiating with their peers peacefully. The child grows up knowing what they need not do but fails to understand why it is wrong. This affects how they deal with others and how they can handle their emotions.

           In no way does externalization help a person. Rather, it impacts their mental and psychological wellness and their relationship with other people. As such, to ensure that children avoid externalization and grow to be more positive and confident people, it is vital to view this punishment as a negative act that reinforces has vices in society.

                                        Conclusion

            Spanking is ineffective in disciplining children and helping them alter their behaviors.(restatement of thesis) Rather than compound essential life virtues and values within children, spanking causes physical harm strains the relationship between a parent and their child, increases aggressiveness in childhood, results in externalization, and deteriorates children’s mental health. Instead of helping children develop accepted virtues that would help them relate well with others as they develop into adulthood, regularly spanked children are scarred and cannot cope well. As such, parents should adopt more effective ways of punishing their children or derive new ways of correcting their behavior that does not involve so many negative outcomes. (summary of main points)

                                         References

Altschul, I., Lee, S. J., & Gershoff, E. T. (2016). Hugs not hits Warmth and spanking as predictors of child social competence. Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(3), 695-714.

Dewar, G. (2019). Spanking children: Why does it happen, and what are the effects?. Parentingscience.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021. Available at:  https://www.parentingscience.com/spanking-children.html.

Hamblin, J. (2017). People Who Were Spanked Are More Likely to Be Violent in Relationships. The Atlantic. Retrieved 4 April 2021. Available at:  https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2017/12/the-fourth-r/547583/.

Keenan, K. (2012). Development of Physical Aggression from Early Childhood to Adulthood. University of Chicago. Available at: https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/aggression/according-experts/development-physical-aggression-early-childhood-adulthood#:~:text=Some%20young%20children%20engage%20in,outcomes%2C%20and%20accumulation%20of%20deficits.