I am somewhat surprised that you could read what Alice Miller's points were about how spanking children affects entire societies and still insist that liberty of parents to hit their children outweighs the advantages to the larger community which are the result of not spanking, but now I see from what you wrote that you are apparently also having difficulty seeing the difference between verbal abuse and correcting children respectfully when they do something wrong, so I am not sure it is worth my time to try to explain it all again.
I find it strange but no longer surprising that hitting your children is seen as a freedom of expression issue. A firm belief in spanking seems to go along with an entire constellation of conservative beliefs which often include Bible Belt Christian religion, Republican politics, and anti-protestor, pro-military-right-or-wrongism, and lack of interest in finding out what kind of child development actually results in happy, healthy children. I would think that the highest kind of patriotism would be in rearing an entire generation of strong and well-adjusted children, because the health of each generation is absolutely vital to the strength of the entire society historically.
In any event, in a Canadian study which followed children who had been spanked, the rate of anxiety disorders, major depression, alcohol problems and drug abuse are much higher in children who were spanked. This is not to say that ALL children who are spanked develop these disorders, but spanking is clearly a hurtful and damaging parenting practice. Certainly it is illogical to say that your right to hit your child outweighs that of society to thrive by producing healthy children.
Punished for Life
Spanked Kids Prone to Adult Addictions
T O R O N T O Oct. 5, — Children spanked by
their parents are twice as likely to develop drug
and alcohol problems in adulthood, according to
a Canadian study released today.
The study found that those who were spanked or
slapped had increased rates of anxiety disorders,
anti-social behavior and depression.
But the authors of the survey of 4,888 adults in
Ontario were quick to add that once spanked a child
wouldn't automatically develop problems.
“Not everyone who is spanked or slapped (as a child)
goes on to develop a disorder,” said Dr. Harriet
MacMillan, who developed the study with five other
researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Their study, published today in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal, is believed to be the largest of its
kind in the world.
The researchers based their findings on the responses
of adults, ages 15 to 64. Of the respondents who were
slapped or spanked occasionally, 21 percent developed
anxiety, 7 percent suffered from major depression, 13
percent had an alcohol problem, and 17 per cent
developed drug abuse or an anxiety disorder.
Avoid Risk Factors, Stop Spanking
“It is likely that some, but not all (respondents), are at risk
for developing a disorder,” she said. “But since I can't
predict who will develop a disorder, the risk should be
avoided by practicing alternative forms of discipline.”
About 70 to 75 percent of Canadian parents spank
their children, according to previous studies. But 41
percent of those surveyed were “rarely” spanked or
slapped as children, while 34 per cent said “sometimes”,
21 per cent said “never” and 6 per cent responded
“often”.
But spanking is much more common in society than the
data indicates, because kids are mostly frequently
spanked between the ages of 3 and 4, and that is too
early for most adults to remember, MacMillan said.
She hopes her findings will encourage parents to avoid
spanking as a disciplinary tool.
The Toronto-based legal-aid clinic, Justice for
Children and Youth, is launching a constitutional challenge
against spanking.
“The study reinforces what parents need to hear -
spanking is is not good for children and parents need to
modify their behavior,” said lawyer Cheryl Milne, who is
leading the case scheduled for early December.
abcnews.go.com |
