Spanking Raises Chances of Risky, Deviant Sexual Behaviour

[Zephyr]

Spanking Raises Chances of Risky, Deviant Sexual Behavior

Review found physical punishment of kids linked to unprotected, masochistic sex as adults
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have uncovered another damaging consequence of spanking: risky sexual behaviors, or even sexual deviancy, when the child grows up.

"This adds one more harmful side effect to spanking," said Murray Straus, a spanking expert who was expected to present the findings of four studies at the American Psychological Association's Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships in Bethesda, Md., on Thursday.

"I think that it's pretty powerful," said Elizabeth Gershoff, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work. "It's across several studies and across different forms of either risky or deviant sexual behavior."

Straus, who was the author of all four studies, hopes the findings will raise awareness among child development experts.

"My hope is to convince my colleagues that they ought to put this in their textbooks," said Straus, co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, in Durham. "It's amazing. Something experienced by all American kids gets an average of half a page in child development textbooks, and not a single one comes to the conclusion that parents should never spank."

Even the revered Dr. Spock, who was anti-spanking, never came right out and advised parents outright not to do it, he added. Instead, Spock advised "avoiding it if you can."

A meta-analysis of spanking studies conducted by Gershoff found 93 percent agreement among studies that spanking can lead to such problems as delinquent and anti-social behavior in childhood along with aggression, criminal and anti-social behavior and spousal or child abuse as an adult.

"There's probably nothing else in child development that has 93 percent agreement in results," Straus said.

Five percent of people who have never been spanked hit their partners, versus 25 percent of those who were spanked frequently.

However, some 90 percent of U.S. parents spank toddlers, according to Straus.

The review being presented at the meeting are the first to look at the relationship of spanking to sexual behavior.

They found that spanking and other corporal punishment is associated with an increased probability of verbally and physically coercing a dating partner to have sex; risky sex such as premarital sex without using a condom; and masochistic sex such as spanking during sex.

There is a "dose response" at work here. "The more parents spank, the higher the probability of harmful side effects," Straus noted.

Of course, there's a similar dose response for smokers. But if someone reaches the age of 65 without developing lung cancer, it doesn't mean that smoking isn't harmful. It means the person was one of the lucky ones.

It's the same with spanking, Straus said. "If a person says, 'I was spanked, and I don't have any interest in bondage and discipline sex, that's correct, but it's not because spanking is OK, it's because they're one of the lucky ones."

And spanking a child once may be like picking up that first cigarette. "The trouble is, if you have a 2-year-old, you pretty soon decide you can't avoid it. The recidivism rate for whatever 'crime' you correct a 2-year-old for is about 50 percent in two hours."

"I've been researching corporal punishment for 30 years and, in the course of that time, the evidence has accumulated that it doesn't work any better than non-corporal punishment but has harmful side effects. I have come to the conclusion that parents should never, ever spank because, although it does work, it's no better than non-hitting methods that don't have harmful side effects. If there was an FDA for spanking, they'd say use an alternative that doesn't have harmful side effects."

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SOURCES: Murray Straus, Ph.D., co-director, Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham; Elizabeth Gershoff, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Feb. 28, 2008, presentation, American Psychological Association's Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships, Bethesda, Md.



What are your views on spanking? Spare the rod and spoil the child or there are better alternatives out there which work equally well.

[Morrolan]

the article looks and reads like self-glorification of one person who tries to push his ideas on this subject.

i think it's utter rubbish (the 'conclusions' of this 'study', not the fact that you shouldn't spank).

if this were true nearly every adult should be a deviant sex fiend.

i think spanking is not done, generally, however, there may be times when a stern lecture just isn't enough and a slap on the bottom or hand may send a stronger, more direct message.

[canuck]

agree with you M, if it were true most adults I know would be deviant sex fiends
(oh wait,, no just kidding)

[Fresh Mint]

I was spanked and caned with regular frequency at boarding school.

Mind you, I am also a deviant sex field.

[Mabel]

That is a very poorly argued case.

Um, the article, I mean. Not you FM.

[canuck]

FM: I think 'boarding school' are the key words there

[Tack]

I am more intrigued as to what agricultural spaces have to do with FM's sexual deviancy!
My convent boarding school did not prepare me for that

Against smacking. I tried it on mine (2-3 times on elder one, once on younger, each time I felt terrible) but it was obvious that I could be more effective through other methods. I was smacked and expected to do the same but with certain differences to my own parents' approach. It really was unnecessary in my kids' case as they have grown up to be darlings...like I would know about deviancy or undarling-like behaviour in my own offspring

[Fat Bob]

Anyone who has twin daughters make sure you spank them on a regular basis. And introduce them to me when they are about 16!

[slinky]

16 year-old girls are illegal for you, FB

[baloo]

He needs two years to cultivate the impression that he's a nice guy.

[slinky]

Oh. Well, then......

[Possum]

If you goggle spank then you goggle smack I am sure each would lead you to very different websites. Unless it is a case of American terminology being different to the rest of the world the good “professor” is playing with words. There is also a huge difference between violent and abusive punishment and a smack. Learning that there is always a consequence to unacceptable behavior is a fundamental aspect of development. As adults we are all aware of the line that should not be crossed and those who aren’t should lose the right to parent.

[canuck]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 220451.htm

all smacks of rubbish to me