Does Spanking Work?

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If you have a child that acts out or misbehaves frequently, then you could find yourself facing a serious question: does spanking actually improve my child’s behavior?

Spanking often has positive immediate effects. When you really need your child to stop misbehaving, a couple smacks on the behind will likely cause her to straighten up quickly. Research now shows, however, that spanking can have long-term effects as well.

Spanking Can Lead to Aggressive Behavior

In a 2010 study, researchers at Tulane University found that frequent spanking can actually make children more aggressive. According to the study, children that are spanked more than twice a month are 50 percent more likely to develop aggressive behaviors by the time they are five years old.

Why Spanking Doesn’t Work

Child psychologists have suggested several reasons that spanking doesn’t curb misbehavior as much as parents expect. Children, for instance, might not fully understand why they get spanked. Children do not have fully developed notions of cause and effect. They might, therefore, have difficulty connecting inappropriate behavior with spanking.

Even worse, spanking sets a bad precedent for children. Instead of learning to control their urges, they learn that violence is an acceptable form of expression. That could lead to increased aggressive during later childhood, the teenage years and adulthood.

As children age, they face greater repercussions for violent behavior. Spanking a child frequently could prepare her for a lifetime of fighting, anxiety and encounters with the law. Instead, psychologists suggest using time outs that give children an opportunity to calm down and think about their actions.