Spanking Your Child: Biblical or Psychologically Damaging?

A special research task force of the American Psychological Association (APA) recently stated that, "parents and caregivers should reduce and potentially eliminate their use of any physical punishment as a disciplinary measure," according to the January 2010 issue of "Scientific American Mind" magazine.

The group of 15 child development psychologists, headed by Sandra A. Graham-Bermann of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, concluded that such physical discipline (often referred to as corporal punishment) may lead to "an increase in childhood anxiety and depression" as well as "behavioral problems, including aggression and impaired cognitive development."

Conversely, countless Christian parents and those of other Protestant denominations continue to support with Scripture the spanking of their children. Common Bible references include Proverbs 13:24: "He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently," (New American Standard Version).

Hebrews 12:6-7 is often used to exemplify God the Father as a model for parents: "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (NAS)

Interestingly, certain members of the research team disagreed with the finds and even claimed that the data was flawed. Psychologist Robert E. Larzelere of Oklahoma State University said that other forms of punishment, including "restriction of privileges, grounding and time-outs" resulted in similar "negative outcomes in children."

"Scientific American Mind" noted that Larzelere suggests parents spank their children only when all other preliminary and gentler forms of punishment are ineffective.

However, the majority of the researches disagreed with Larzelere, believing that spanking should be completely banned in all parent-child relationships.

In his October 2008 article entitled "Spare the Rod? Parents Just Won't Get with the Science," Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler says, "Christian parents have a special stake in this controversy, because the Bible speaks so directly to the use of corporal punishment and the necessity of disciplining disobedient children."

Mohler also adds, "There is no such authority as "the science," and the contradictory debris of now outdated scientific theories and "findings" should be sufficient and persuasive evidence of that fact."

Dr. Michael J. Marshall, author of "Why Spanking Doesn't Work," would likely disagree. At his official web site StopSpanking.com, he asserts that, "Spanking teaches children that violence is the solution to behavior problems" and it "makes children's behavior worse, not better. Unfortunately, by not realizing this sad fact, parents often respond by spanking more, not less. This results in a vicious cycle of violence as boys grow up learning to impose their will on family members through intimidation and physical punishment."

According to 1995 and 2005 national surveys, 90 percent of American parents admit they still spank their children on occasion and 70 percent completely condone it.

©2009 Joshua D. Givens & The Underground Christian E-Magazine

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