The Physical Discipline Of Children

The Physical Discipline Of ChildrenTo raise a peasant of any age comes with many an early(a)(prenominal) difficulties for caregivers. Most parents strive towards raising baberen that are responsible, independent and respectable. There are a few schools of thought to disciplining children. One may be to apply guinea pig by teaching and the other(a) to corporally bailiwick a child as a means to correcting inappropriate behaviors. The Encarta Concise English dictionary defines fudge factor as To teach somebody to obey rules or to be grow in an ordered or controlled modal value (Discipline, 2001, p. 409). Physical discipline is based on the hold of fear as the motivator to changing a childs behavior. Behaviors that do not result in significant physical injury (i.e. spank, slap) are considered corporal punishment, whereas behaviors that chance injury (i.e. punching, kicking, burning) are considered physical abuse (Gershoff, 2002) Parents who use either form of physical discipli ne with children need to understand the damaging effects it can have on a childs emotional, moral and societal development.Emotional DevelopmentA childs self-importance esteem is developed through caregivers offering encouragement, acknowledgement and nurturing their range of emotions. scholarship of emotion is particularly definitive because it re makes the early utilization of friendly cues on which childrens subsequent interpretation and behavioral responses will depend. (Cicchetti, Hormung, Pollak, Reed, 2000, p. 680) Using physical discipline as the motivator for altering a childs behavior affects their emotional stability. Being slapped or spanked is a frightening and threatening event that arouses strong negative emotions such(prenominal) as humiliation, sadness, and anger.(Straus, 2005, p.145) The use of punitive measures is in direct opposition to what disciplining is meant to achieve and may affect a childs development. They may be slow to reach milestones in social and physical development. (Crosson-Tower, 2004, p.191) Physical discipline affects the childs feelings of acceptance and they tend to respond with destructive impulses, rather than affirmative responses. Children and adults reared in abuse have had their senses trained in such a way that to use them for receiving or transmitting positive messages is not part of their communications system. (Helfer, 1980, p.38) Parents and caregivers need to help the child develop self confidence, self reliance and self discipline. Children who recognize self efficacy by being offered simple choices begin to develop moral insight.Moral DevelopmentDiscipline, whether positive or negative, develops a childs perception of themselves and defines their moral understanding of how they should behave. A child who learns hitting is acceptable may be confused, because in many other areas of their life school, day care and recreational activities, hitting is unacceptable. It is in direct pition to what they learn at home which in turn becomes a value. In addition, children exposed to physical discipline are much than susceptible to becoming abusers themselves (Newman, 1993). Parents who are not armed with the proper parenting tools become frustrated and angry about controlling their childrens behavior. Straus (2005) says, spanking has grow in two cultural myths one, spanking is okay if done by a loving parent and two, spanking will work if all other methods of discipline fail (p. 140-141). Parents who understand their childrens ability to internalize all discipline measures, also realize they are developing their childrens values. Childrens internalization of morals is thought to be enhanced by parental discipline strategies that use, minimal parental power, promote choice and autonomy and provide explanations for desirable behaviors (Gershoff, 2002, p. 1) The in brief term consequences of physical discipline will undermine the childs developing moral understanding and further debi litates their social development.Social DevelopmentThe expression of abuse with a physically disciplined child becomes apparent when their interaction reveals itself by their behavior with other children. A child who is physically disciplined at home is traumatized. A study conducted by Marin Beezly (1977) suggests that children were more alert to their environment and cautious of peripheral danger around them (p. 375). Therefore, the resulting animosity that has built up is misdirected to whomever the child comes into contact with outside of the home which is usually learning centers such as schools. In a research study conducted by Eckenroder, Doris Laird (1993) reportings on pre-school children demonstrated that children who have been physically disciplined showed aggressiveness and were more probably to be disciplined from teachers than children who have not been mistreated (p.54). Children who are unable to cope with their pent-up aggression react in a negative way in the s chool environment. For the abused child, the lack of social responsiveness becomes more striking. (Tower, 2002, p. 49)The physically disciplined child who matures and enters high school with multiple disturbed behaviors reveals other social and psychological impairments. Insecure attachments to their mothers, lower intelligence scores, impaired language development, lower levels of cognitive maturity and effectance motivation, more negative affect and less positive effect, less pro-social behavior, and more aggressive and non-compliant behavior. (Eckenroder, Doris and Laird. 1993. p.57). Therefore, the initial bond between child and parent is vital in the development of the child. A strong child-to-parent bond is important because children are more likely to accept parental restrictions and follow parental prototypes if there is a bond of affection with the parent. (Straus, 2005, p. 146). If the trust is diminished from their primary source, videlicet the communication between par ent and child, the bond and relationship is strained. Thus, a childs friendship with other children, siblings and even family members are greatly affected which causes anxiety with the child.ConclusionIn summation, the raising of children presents many challenges for caregivers. The goal of raising children to be responsible, independent and respectable individuals is an arduous task. In the teaching method of disciplining, a goal is to strengthen self discipline and personal control so that caregivers relieve themselves of parenting by the time the offspring leaves home. To reach these goals, parents must make sure their children learn the skills involved in problem solving and making decisions. Conversely, correcting inappropriate behaviors by physically disciplining children have long term consequences which will greatly hinder the childs development as they mature. The short term results of physical discipline on a childs development manifests long term effects, characterized by low self esteem coupled with morals which contradict the values of society.Annotated BibliographyBeezly, P., Harold Martin, P. (1997, June). Behavioural observations of abused children.developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 19, 373-387. Retrieved fromhttp//ibs.colorado.edu/cspv/infohouse/violit/violitDetails.php?recordnumber=3191vio_nam=violitA behavioural observation of abused children is an article derived from Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, compose by Patricia Beezly and Harold Martin. The article focus on how childrens development is directly affected by being physically disciplined by their parents or caregivers. The authors appear to reserve the claim that children should not be physically discipline by using case studies and statistics.Cicchetti, D., Hormung, K., Pollak, S. D., Reed, A. (2000). Recognizing emotion in facesDevelopmental effects of child abuse and neglect. Developmental Psychology, 36(5),677-688. Retrieved from http//psych.wisc.edu/pollak /pdfs/recognizing_emotion_faces_devpsych.pdf.This article is a study by Cicchetti, Hormung, Pollak and Reed with the hypothesis being the lack of recognizing certain emotions as a direct correlation to physical discipline. Utilizing social cues and how the child interprets and responds to them is important for their development and further predicates the childs familiarity of negative environments. The writer understands the premise however the stats seemed weak in respects to differentiating between normal treated children and physically disciplined children, yet clearly neglected children showed the least responsiveness to the tests. Nevertheless, the outcome supports the write up in regards to physical discipline affecting the physicality of children to their reaction of emotions.Crosson-Tower, C., (2004). Exploring child welfare A Practice Perspective. PearsonEducation, Inc.Cynthia Crosson-Tower, examines the protection of children in chapter 7 titled Protecting Children When F amilies Cannot-Child Abuse and Neglect. Her premise, non accidental injury inflicted on a child defines the quintessential meaning of physical abuse to children. In reference to the paper, the writer needed to support the argument of physical discipline being detrimental to the development of childhood milestones.Discipline. (2001). Encarta concise english dictionary. London.The definition of the word Discipline was found in the Encarta Concise English Dictionary. The relevance of the term being added to the research paper is so the reader has an correct meaning of the conveyed idea.Eckenroder, J., Doris, J., Laird, M. (1993). School performances and disciplinary problemsAmong abused and neglected children. Development Psychology, 29(1), 53-62. Retrieved from http// http//www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00121649.Eckenroder, Laird and Doris ascertained data from a school and examined stats from kindergarten to set 12 in their study. The study, for instance revealed the pers onalities of pre-schoolers as aggressive and requiring more attention from the teachers. The writer found the study helpful to the paper in supporting that physical discipline is exposed upon contact with learning centers such as daycares and schools.Gershoff, E. T. ( 2002). Corporal punishment by parents and associated behaviors andExperiences A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 128 (4), 539-579. doi 10.1037/0033-2909.128.4.539This review paper by Gershoff anticipates the use of physical discipline or corporal punishment as detrimental to child behaviors and experiences as relative to pain. The review was helpful in defining how the study differentiated between corporal punishment and physical abuse, yet the bias was supported by Gershoffs findings.Kemp, C.H. Helfer, R.E. (Eds.) (1980). The Battered Child (3rd. Ed.). doughUniversity ofChicago Press.In chapter 3 titled Developmental Deficits Which Limit Interpersonal Skills, of the text The Battered Chi ld, Ray Helfer explores how senses vital to our development can be affected by abuse. Senses are developed by the childs environment and when these external forces are not positive and safe the child suppresses and mutes their own development. Helfers focal points on interpersonal skills such as delayed gratification, responsibility, decision making, problem solving, trusting others, feelings and action are affected by childhood deficits.Newman, F. (1993). Children in Crisis. Scholastic Canada.Children in Crisis, is a admit written by Fran Newman. It covers topics on different types of child abuse, precipitating factors to the events leading to abuse and the impact on family dynamics. This book was somewhat helpful, although the focus appeared to be more on family structure and values, rather than how child abuse directly affects a childs self esteem and other developmental stages.Straus, M.A. (2005). Children should never, ever, be spanked no matter what the circumstances.In D. R. Loseke, R. J. Gelles M. M Cavanaugh (Eds.), Current Controversies aboutFamily Violence (2nd ed., 137-157). Thousand Oak, CA Sage. Retrieved fromhttp//pubpages.unh.edu/mas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdfThis article written by Murray Straus was located through Google Scholars search engine. The author presented relevant and accurate information on the topic of child development and the ineffectiveness of physical discipline on children. Although the article was interesting, the use of language and vocabulary may present an entry level university student with great difficulty when attempting to read and retain the information.Tower, C. (2002). Understanding child abuse and neglect. ( 5th ed.). Boston, MA USACynthia Crosson-Towers in chapter 3 Maltreatment and the Developing Child, studies early childhood development. Infants that have not had the stimuli of care do not reach the required milestones outlined for that age. Milestones, as a standard measurement for development has shown that it is vital that children reach each phase and move onto the next phase for proper development. The material covered in the text was laconic and clear for the understanding of childhood development.