1840 kids and 1840 mothers studied from when the children were infants through the children's teenage years.
Study found that
"if children experience severe punishment at 15 months they were more likely to exhibit increased aggressive and delinquent behaviors in the fifth grade. They were also less likely to show positive behaviors, such as helping others. "
Spanking + other physical punishments led children in 5th grade (10 years later):
- to exhibit increased aggressive behaviors
- to exhibit increased criminal behaviors
- to be less likely to show positive behaviors, such as helping others
A co-author of the study, Gustavo Carlo, Millsap Professor of Diversity at MU and director of the MU Center for Family Policy and Research, says
"It is very important that parents refrain from physical punishment as it can have long-lasting impacts. If we want to nurture positive behaviors, all parents should teach a child how to regulate their behaviors early."
Try:
- Disciplining without using physical force.
- Positive Discipline
What is positive discipline?
"Positive discipline contrasts with negative discipline. Negative discipline may involve angry, destructive, or violent responses to inappropriate behavior. In the terms used by psychology research, positive discipline uses the full range of reinforcement and punishment options:
- Positive reinforcement, such as complimenting a good effort;
- Negative reinforcement, such as ignoring requests made in a whining tone of voice;
- Positive punishment, such as requiring a child to clean up a mess s/he made; and
- Negative punishment, such as removing a privilege in response to poor behavior.
However, unlike negative discipline, it does all of these things in a kind, encouraging, and firm manner. The focus of positive discipline is to establish reasonable limits and guide children to take responsibility to stay within these limits, or learn how to remedy the situation when they don't." Source: Wikipedia
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