This paper reviews several studies and journal articles on the subject of corporal punishment as a disciplinary tool. Consideration is given to those who favor its use, those who oppose it, cultural and religious influences, its merits and dangers, and how its use together with other methods improve its success and minimize negative effects. Induction in particular is examined and examined for its strong role in internalization in children when used together with corporal punishment.

No area seems to so bitterly divide psychologists when discussing discipline than that of spanking. Though practiced throughout American history as a normal part of child-rearing, and despite reports that it is currently practiced by 94% of parents at some time by the time their children are 3 to 4 years old (Gershoff 2002), corporal punishment has come under increased scrutiny and distain by many in recent decades. This is largely, but not entirely, due to the frequent association with this type of punishment and child abuse.

Corporal punishment is using force to cause children to experience pain without in

A top mistake listed in this assessment of dysfunctional parenting was verbosity. With corporal punishment the excess can be escalation, resulting in abuse (Holden 2002), but with induction frustration of parents seems to be the tendency to talk too much producing a neutralizing effect (Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, & Acker, 1993). Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, and Acker (1993) like so many other studies and reports, concur that good habits in children must be established at an early age, but when using induction, parents should take into account the child's schema and make efforts to communicate their position at a level that the child can grasp and hopefully accept and internalize as their own (Hoffman 1994).

Hoffman, M.L. (1994). Discipline and Internalization. Developmental Psychology. 30(Hoffman 1994) 26-28 Holden, G.W. (2002). Perspectives on the Effects of Corporal punishment: Comment on

Arnold, D.S., O'Leary, S.G., Wolff, L.S., Acker, M.M. (1993). The Parenting Scale: A Measure

Proponents of spanking site several reasons for accepting this practice. Research has repeatedly shown, as no doubt parents know, that spanking is very effective in causing immediate compliance or compliance within 5 seconds (Holden 2002). Some believe that authoritative parents, such as those who practice spanking, are effective because they offer just enough pressure to gain conformity of the child to the parents' goals for behavior ().

Instructional Psychology. 23(Bradley 1998), 228.

A close examination of corporal punishment cannot be properly done without also looking at the method of induction. The "best" parents are frequently sited as being those that draw from a number of methods (Grusec & Goodnow, 1994). The importance of induction when discussing corporal punishment goes to the heart of what effective discipline is defined to be. Holden (2002) says, "Discipline means to train, instruct, educate. Training cannot be accomplished simply by suppressing undesired behaviors through punishment" (p 592). Inductive discipline involves discussion with the child in an attempt to get them through reason to comply. Corporal punishment can get attention and gain compliance, but induction goes further and promotes internalization of the parents' values or morals in the child (Hoffman 1994). Most studies reveal that parents, who use corporal punishment with success, do so in conjunction with talking to the child. This was true even in Bradley's (1998) examination of African American homes where spanking was used frequently, and in Conservative Protestant homes where it was considered a normal part of the discipline process (Gershoff, Miller, & Holden, 1999). Both of these studies revealed parents used discussion with children more than simply spanking. Given the importance placed by psychologists on using reasoning also, if any power assertive technique is used (Hoffman 1994),(Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, & Acker, 1993), induction should not be ignored by parents who favor corporal punishment. It is perhaps the success of induction that is being observed rather than that of corporal punishment in families who report its success, with corporal punishment only serving as a reinforcement or attention gaining device for the parents' delivery of a clear verbal message.

Development. 26(Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, & Acker, 1993), 273.

Internalization of Values: A Reconceptualization of Current Points of View.

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