Corporal punishment involves employing physical force to result in pain as a way of disciplining a child. Some of the common forms of corporal punishment include; slapping, spanking and rapping the head of a child (Lenta, 2012). It is important to note that these forms of punishment are not considered as abuse. Corporal punishment is viewed as s strategy of dealing with behavioural problems such that children avoid indiscipline cases. However, it can be perceived that when the punishment is not controlled, it results in abuse which may harm a child and possibly result in more aggressive behaviour (Lenta, 2012). Since it prompts physical abuse and makes children experience emotional trauma and fear, corporal punishment can be viewed as a form of abuse rather than discipline.
Corporal punishment is a form of abuse as it acts as a precursor for physical abuse. According to a report by Joan E. Durrant (2004), most of the cases regarding physical abuse on children are associated with them being exposed to the inappropriate treatment. The inappropriate treatment, in this case, includes being spanked by an object or hand such that a child is physically harmed (Durrant, 2004). Also, the use of corporal punishment may intensify gradually as the child develops. A parent may slightly swat the hand of a toddler for the toddler to behave. However, when the child is about six years old, the physical punishment will have to intensify such as spanking the child with a belt and become stiffer as the child grows which may result in physical harm (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2017). Therefore, the fact that physical punishment risks a child from experiencing physical harm makes corporal punishment an abuse and not a form of discipline.
Corporal punishment may also result in emotional trauma and fear when compared to instilling discipline to a child (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2017). When a child is exposed to physical punishment, instead of learning the need for good discipline, he or she fears the parent and hence the role of punishment not establishing its course (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2017). When children fear their parents, it becomes difficult for them to express their emotions and feelings freely. A child also becomes helpless, ashamed and guilty such that his or her moral, emotional, and intellectual developments are affected. Furthermore, a child might experience stress when finding it difficult to behave as expected (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2017). Therefore, the emotional trauma and fear that corporal punishment presents make it an abuse rather than a form of discipline.
However, it is argued that corporal punishment contributes to discipline and hence should be used in certain situations (Bitensky, 2006). Nonetheless, there are other forms of punishment that parents or guardians can employ instead of using corporal punishment. They included counselling, grounding and denied some benefits such as watching television and spending time with peers until there is a change in behaviour. It is important to note that parents have the role of instilling discipline to children and acting as good role models for children look up to them and learn from them (Bitensky, 2006). In other words, there are various ways of handling childrens behaviour rather than exposing them to physical pain.
As stated earlier, since it prompts physical abuse and makes children experience emotional trauma and fear, corporal punishment can be viewed as a form of abuse rather than discipline. Despite the fact that corporal punishment relatively assists in instilling discipline, it should be discouraged as it prompts the occurrence of physical abuse in addition to interfering with the emotional development of children. Since it risks a child from experiencing harm, then corporal punishment can be viewed as a form of abuse.
References
Bitensky, S. H. (2006). Corporal Punishment of Children. A Human Right Violation. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Durrant, J.E. (2004). Physical Punishment and Physical Abuse. Children, 50. https://yesvote.org.nz/files/2009/02/dr-j-durrant-children-50-20041.pdfLenta, P. (2012). Corporal punishment of children. Social theory and practice, 38(4), 689-716.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2017). Physical Punishment: What Parents Should Know. http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/PhysicalPunishment_Factsheet.pdf
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