Parental punishment

Physical punishment is a form of child abuse, whichever way you look at it. A child can be raised successfully without reverting to smacking. Given this, physical punishment of children is an act and a symptom of irresponsible parenting behaviour. Physical punishment may not only lead to trauma or other detrimental psychological effects, but in turn teaches the child that physical violence is an acceptable strategy. Accordingly, the child may go on to delegate physical violence in his or her social interactions.

When parents use corporal punishment to reduce anti-social behaviour in children, the long-term effect tends to be the opposite. Physical discipline produces low self-esteem and depression. Children who are spanked regularly are more likely to cheat or lie, to be disobedient at school and to bully others, and to have less remorse for what they do wrong.

In the UK it is estimated that over 90% of children are smacked by their parents. Such a culturally universal practice would normally indicate that the parents are engaging in this practice out of common sense and experience indicating its merits. It is a simple form of correction that is quick, minimally painful emotionally and physically, and easily understood by the child, even at an early age. It is also a means whereby a child's aggressive instincts are trained by indicating clear limits to the pleasure and excitement of aggression. In smacking a child for bad behaviour, a parent is demonstrating the difference between legitimate parental violence, which is measured and done with moral intention, and illegitimate forms of aggression. Children who are never smacked frequently become spoilt, because their aggressive instincts have not been effectively educated.

The verbal abuse that usually accompanies spanking does the child more harm than the physical contact.