Family Forum / Parenting / Spanking / April 2004

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/282002c.asp

Pro-Family Advocates Throw Light on 'Anti-Spanking' Study

 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to
discipline him. [Proverbs 13:24]

 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it. [Proverbs 22:6]

By Rusty Pugh and Jody Brown
June 28, 2002

(AgapePress) - Several pro-family spokespersons are critical of a new study
that claims spanking causes long-term damage to children.

Psychologist Elizabeth Gershoff of Columbia University says her study,
published in a recent issue of Psychological Review, the journal of the
American Psychological Association, shows spanking causes aggression,
anti-social behavior, and mental problems in kids. But while she contends
"long-term harm" is inflicted by spanking, she admits there is no scientific
basis for her conclusions.

Dr. Janice Crouse of the Beverly LaHaye Institute, who says Gershoff
obviously has an agenda, says there is a big difference between spanking and
beating a child.

"Those are very different kinds of things," Crouse says. "But the beauty of
spanking, to me, is that once it's over, it's over -- and the child feels
like 'I have paid the price for my disobedience, I have suffered the
consequences, and now I can move on.' "

Crouse says contrary to this study's findings, it is the absence of spanking
that has contributed to worse behavior problems in children and rising crime
among young people.

"It just is very amusing to me to stand by and listen to some very young,
immature parents try to reason with a two-year-old, a three-year-old, or a
four-year-old -- and obviously, the child doesn't understand what the parent
is reasoning about. But what they do understand is that they can manipulate
that parent."

Crouse says it takes courage for a parent to discipline a child the
old-fashioned way, rather then relying on liberal psycho-babble and ProzacÒ
.

Dr. Bill Maier, a child psychologist at Focus on the Family, also debunks
Gershoff's study. He says parents have employed spanking as a means of
discipline for a long time -- and with good results.

"The study implies that every parent using non-abusive corporal punishment
does so out of uncontrollable rage," Maier says. "For years, millions of
parents have lovingly and intentionally administered mild corporal
punishment out of a true desire to raise happy, secure children -- and have
been successful."

According to Focus on the Family, almost two-thirds of the studies Gershoff
reviewed measured only severe corporal punishment -- such as slapping the
face, beatings, or hitting with a fist. Despite that, Gershoff uses those
results to argue against all forms of corporal punishment.

Dr. Walt Larimore is a family physician and vice president of medical
outreach for Focus. He disagrees with Gershoff, who told The Washington Post
that because of the numerous risks associated with corporal punishment, she
can think of no situation where a child should be spanked.

"Parents should never discipline their children in anger," Larimore says,
"however it is an offensive notion that lovingly administered spanking is
tantamount to abuse."

Larimore says parents should be outraged to know that their efforts to raise
obedient, well-adjusted children have been equated with child abuse.

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