To Spank or not to Spank...

I notice that the poll on spanking is deadlocked at 2 to 2. And there are only three days to go. This is not a very good turn out to the ballot box. Nor is it helpful at all in shaping our child rearing views (since I ardently believe to always do what is most popular at the moment.)

I can only think of a few possible reasons why people have not voted. Since I refuse to believe that people just aren’t visiting our blog anymore, I’m assuming that you all are stumped on this issue. Therefore, I thought I would do some research to help inform your decisions. I found two scholarly articles that outline the arguments for and against corporal punishment. Please use these articles as a reference in making up your mind. Then cast your vote. G-Baby’s buttock is in your hands!

Spanking Definitely Hurts the Child More Than You
By Dr. Brady Wusseface

1. Spanking is ineffective: Spanking a child will stop the child from misbehaving for the moment, but studies have shown that the child's compliance will only last for a short time. Better ideas for intervention include asking the child nicely, putting the child in their toy-stocked room for an extended period of time, or begging the child to please listen.
2. It may trigger criminal, anti-social, violent, aggressive behavior later in life: A longitudinal study of 442 boys born in 1972, found that one out of every three boys -- those who have a specific version of a gene -- who was maltreated during childhood will be almost certain to now be fans and ardent supporters of Michael Vick.
3. It has been linked to many adult problems: Corporal punishment studies have linked spanking during childhood to higher levels of ugly feelings, country music listening, and conservatism as an adult. It was also found that 93% of carnies were spanked throughout their childhood.
4. Spanking lowers a child’s IQ: This is why it was banned in Texas schools after the recent emphasis on standardized testing.
5. It hurts the child: Most children who are about to be spanked report that they don’t want to be spanked because it is going to hurt.

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child
By Christian Wallop, Ph.D.

1. "Spanking was good for me; I turned out OK. It should be good for my children.” Aka, the revenge principle. Research demonstrates that individuals spanked as a child wait their whole life for the opportunity to smack somebody without consequence.
2. Spanking is the only method of discipline for toddlers who cannot understand reason and explanations. Studies have shown that children do in fact experience pain at an early age when they are struck forcefully. They will then use their inability to reason to associate this with nothing and just look at you confused.
3. The eight strongest studies demonstrate beneficial outcomes from corporal punishment. Children of spankers demonstrate a propensity to outwardly agree with their parents, thereby greatly improving their scores on parent-completed child outcome measures.
4. Since parents started to abandon spanking, youth violence has increased. This is a fact. There are currently studies under way to determine if increases in autism, on-line social networking, and the swine flu are also brought about by our failure to hit children.
5. God commands us to spank our children. There are many pro corporal punishment statements in the Bible. In fact, according to exegesis, when Jesus says “bring the children to me,” he also uses the Hebrew word “whackass,” which translates to the English “switch” or “paddle.”