Children's rights to protection from physical punishment in their homes : theory and research. Paper presented at international conference: Childhoods 2005, Norway, 29 June - 3 July 2005
Smith, Anne B.
Children's rights to protection from physical punishment in their homes : theory and research. Paper presented at international conference: Childhoods 2005, Norway, 29 June - 3 July 2005 Smith, Anne B. - Otago, N.Z. Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago 2005 - 19 p. ; computer file : PDF format (181 Kb)
This conference paper examines the use of physical punishment from a social sciences point of view. The author discusses five theoretical perspectives in relation to physical punishment as a framework for the discussion. The author draws on a review of research to argue that physical punishment is an ineffective and detrimental means for disciplining children. Research findings consistently show that physical punishment used as a form of family discipline has a number of negative long-term effects on children's development. Some of these effects include: antisocial behaviour, for example, aggression towards others; poorer cognitive development and lower academic achievement; poorer relationships between children and their parents and attachment issues; mental health problems, for example, depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviours; and inhibited internalisation of moral values. The author concludes that there is very little research that supports the use of physical punishment.
CHILD NEGLECT
CHILD PROTECTION
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
DISCIPLINE
MENTAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL ABUSE
CHILD ABUSE
NEW ZEALAND
Children's rights to protection from physical punishment in their homes : theory and research. Paper presented at international conference: Childhoods 2005, Norway, 29 June - 3 July 2005 Smith, Anne B. - Otago, N.Z. Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago 2005 - 19 p. ; computer file : PDF format (181 Kb)
This conference paper examines the use of physical punishment from a social sciences point of view. The author discusses five theoretical perspectives in relation to physical punishment as a framework for the discussion. The author draws on a review of research to argue that physical punishment is an ineffective and detrimental means for disciplining children. Research findings consistently show that physical punishment used as a form of family discipline has a number of negative long-term effects on children's development. Some of these effects include: antisocial behaviour, for example, aggression towards others; poorer cognitive development and lower academic achievement; poorer relationships between children and their parents and attachment issues; mental health problems, for example, depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviours; and inhibited internalisation of moral values. The author concludes that there is very little research that supports the use of physical punishment.
CHILD NEGLECT
CHILD PROTECTION
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
DISCIPLINE
MENTAL HEALTH
PHYSICAL ABUSE
CHILD ABUSE
NEW ZEALAND