Is Corporal Punishment Needed to Discipline Children? Outline Example

Inroduction

Background of research

Thesis or Problem Statement

(There is an old English adage that states `spare the rod and spoil the child `, this stemmed from Victorian times when raising children was based upon a strict disciplinarian attitude of `the child should be seen but not heard. During these times corporal punishment was viewed as a means of disciplining the child and creating moral fibre. Today we are a more progressive society and realise that such actions of violence and brutality can inflict lasting psychological damage to the children. As such the argument is against the use of corporal punishment either at home or in domestic settings. )

Literature Review

Corporal Punishment

The historical perspective

The modern context

Latest Research

Reservations on the use of corporal punishment

Sociological and Psychological concerns

(The concept of corporate punishment is still widely practiced in many American families. Most educational institutions have abolished the practice. American psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Gershoff has extensively research the positive and negative attributes of this. Gershoff found that the bulk of the behavioural associations with corporate punishment were extremely negative. This was found to increase aggression and anti-social behaviour in the child. This type of punishment admonished by a Father to his child was seen as bullying and a sort of betrayal in the relationship or failure of communication. Rather than repair the situation this often led to a more deteriorating relationship and in certain cases this escalated into abuse or maltreatment of the child. (Gershoff, 2002))

Conclusions

Verification of Thesis Statement

Summary points

(Children are more educated today and the concept of punishment should be based upon dialogue and communication. It may be better to explain what is wrong and withdraw certain privileges for a period to demonstrate such behaviour is unacceptable. The beating of children is more akin to that of bullying and creates the wrong kind of relationship with the child. Research indicates that instead of inducing proper behaviour it leads towards more alienation. In addition, children are very impressionable at a young age and being violent towards them can indeed create lasting sociological, psychological and medical problems. The concept should be consigned to history)

References

(Christopher Dare, C. L. (1979). Children in Family Therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 253-269.

Ellison, G. S. (1993). Conservative Protestantism and support for corporal punishment. American sociological review Vol 58 No 1, 131-133.

Gershoff, E. (2002). Is corporal punishment an effective means of discipline. American Psychological Association .

Strauss, M. D. (2009). Beating the devil out of them: corporal punishment in American families and its effects on children. In M. D. Strauss, Beating the devil out of them: corporal punishment in American families and its effects on children (pp. 3-12). New York: Lexington Books.)