It is not spanking that causes psychological damage. It is growing up in an unstable or IMBALANCED home.
Spanking is no more wrong than grounding regardless if its more physical or not. We put kids through sports training which can sometimes actually mean enduring physical discomfort or pain. The human body is resilient and it takes trials and discomforts to learn and grow sometimes.
The problem is only if spanking (swatting the behind) is actually slapping or beating with a fist or battering on other parts of the body besides that most well padded part. Also if there is no BALANCE of support and encouragement and positive reinforcement for the things they do correctly. Usually spanking mixed with an environment with no other communication or interaction leads to the worst damage.
I have explained before that my parents disciplined us as needed and they also praised and rewarded us. They communicated with us clearly any boundaries and the reasons why and the potential consequences up to and including spanking. They prepared us for the REAL world in which people are expected to make INFORMED Decisions based upon desired outcomes and where consequences for some choices are much harsher than for other. There was no doubt they loved us and they always had our back if anyone was doing us wrong.
Most of the spanked children in these anti spanking studies had an imbalance where either the only attention they received was negative and physical or where they were so spoiled in believing parents were doormats to step on and make do whatever makes them happy that even simple no's made them somehow fall apart and feel mistreated.
Edited by
msharmony
on Sun 09/10/17 04:55 AM