A couple weeks ago we wrote about the notable link we found between Americans’ own discipline experiences as children and what we feel is appropriate today. We also highlighted the interesting cultural and demographic differences we found, when it comes to feelings of appropriateness regarding physical discipline techniques for children.
In that same study among 1,506 U.S. adults, we dug a little deeper into Americans’ attitudes toward physical discipline. It turns out that just under one-third (31%) feel that any sort of physical discipline is child abuse and should not be tolerated. Two-thirds (66%) feel that spanking is ok, but that any other type of physical discipline is child abuse and should not be tolerated. Yet, at the same time, 57% go on to agree that using physical discipline techniques on a child can have negative long-term effects on that child. I find that interesting (in that it feels contradictory), though I suppose that some of the 57% may have been thinking specifically about physical discipline techniques beyond spankings, like hitting a child with a belt, paddle, switch, etc.
Physical Discipline on Kids
The perceived effectiveness of physical discipline techniques is an area Americans certainly disagree on. Just about half (49%) believe kids will be better-behaved if you utilize physical discipline. The other half (51%) disagree with this assessment. Those who had been physically disciplined as kids are much more likely to believe in the link with better behavior than those who did not receive physical discipline as a child (57% vs. 32%, respectively). Those who had been physically disciplined with an object (belt, paddle, etc.) are even more likely to agree that physical discipline leads to better behavior (60%). And in the South, where physical discipline (in general, as well as non-spanking physical discipline, specifically) is considered more appropriate, we see greater alignment with the physical-discipline-equals-better-behavior opinion, versus the rest of the country (55% in the South vs. 46% elsewhere).
One more attitudinal point of interest from this research is that 54% of Americans feel that the increased use of non-physical discipline techniques (e.g., “time-outs”, groundings, taking away a toy/game) is resulting in children being “too soft” these days. This attitude is more prevalent among those who were physically disciplined as children themselves (60%) versus those who were not (42%). One could wonder if those who were physically disciplined as children perhaps see it as something of a rite of passage.
This attitude is also more prevalent in the South and Midwest (58% within each), versus the Northeast (51%) and West (47%), and it’s more common among Males than Females (59% vs. 49%, respectively). Interestingly, Republicans are also much more likely than Democrats to feel that the increased use of non-physical discipline techniques these days is resulting in children being “too soft” (64% vs. 48%). Though, Republicans were also more likely than Democrats to have been spanked as children (66% vs. 56%). I’ll stay away from further commentary on that one!
Do you think that there are any positive effects of spanking children, aside from potentially creating better behavior at that moment – for example, do you feel it “toughens-up” children in a positive way? Do you think parents should be able to use their own discretion regarding how to best discipline their kids?
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