Effects of Corporal Punishment

Although many believe spanking and corporal punishment is an effective method to curb unwarranted behavior, it can actually cause excess, unwanted aggression and social outbursts. As people are exposed to corporal punishment at an early age, it becomes culturally acceptable. Children then grow up believing that corporal punishment is a socially acceptable behavior and are more prone to committing corporal punishment themselves (As seen in the Adrian Peterson case study) Witnessed in the logic presented by Elisabeth Gershoff, PhD., "“Physical punishment doesn’t work to get kids to comply, so parents think they have to keep escalating it. That is why it is so dangerous,” (APA.com) Since this method of rearing is extremely ineffective, the continuous physical punishment leads children and students to many personal problems such as low self esteem and aggression issues.

According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, "Parents who had experienced frequent physical punishment during their childhood were more likely to believe it was acceptable, and they frequently spanked their children" (APA.com). The effects of corporal punishment are so drastic that they stay with children long into their adult hood and affect the way children rear their own children. The children are so shaken up by corporal punishment that they transfer their emotions and aggression to future children and generations.