Many people resist being told what to do, and children are no exception. Parents often struggle to find ways to discipline their kids without resorting to old-fashioned methods like spanking. However, research has consistently shown that spanking does more harm than good.
Despite this, some people still defend spanking, often citing their own experiences as proof that it works. But just because someone was spanked and turned out okay doesn’t mean it was the spanking that made the difference. In fact, studies have shown that spanking can actually make behavioral problems worse, not better.
A study published in The Lancet found that spanking not only fails to decrease disruptive, aggressive, or defiant behaviors in children but actually makes them worse. Additionally, children who were regularly spanked gained fewer cognitive skills than those who weren’t. This effect worsened with repeated spanking and wasn’t offset by more nurturing behaviors from parents.
Harvard research confirms these findings, showing that spanked children are more likely to develop mental health problems like anxiety and depression. The effects of spanking on brain development are similar to those of other forms of abuse. As our understanding of the harm caused by spanking grows, it becomes clear that continuing the practice is a risky gamble.
Even if some people believe spanking worked for them, there’s little reason to think it will have the same effect on their own children. With the well-being of children at stake, it’s time to reconsider the use of spanking as a form of discipline.
