study that says spanking is great - rebuttals, anyone?

[nia82]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581882,00.html


Yikes.

[AntoninBeGonin]

Well, thanks to spanking--and yes, I mean just some minor swatting, nothing that causes bruising or welting--I am a nervous, neurotic, and extremely guarded individual with very little ability to make close connections with anyone, and especially not my parents not matter how hard they might try now that I'm an adult. I did volunteer as an EMT-Basic for a few years before I married and had kids, but wanting to give to others is intrinsic to my personality. Being hit by my parents was not motivation in the slightest to help others. That idea doesn't even make sense. "Oh boy, I just got slapped by someone! I think I'll go work in a soup kitchen!" Huh?

[nia82]

I don't understand it either.... Does anyone know who sponsored this stuff? It just seems like someone with an agenda is behind this. I would love to know.

[crunchy_mommy]

Wow... I read the title & didn't see the need to read much further...

I was spanked as a kid but rarely & not hard... I had lots of emotional problems in high school (not sure they were the direct result of spanking though!) and almost didn't graduate because of it. I have a nagging fear of my dad that even to this day is occasionally hard to supress even though we have a great relationship overall.

My DH was spanked harder and more often and he is truly afraid of his parents, particularly his dad... he even thought our DS would not be safe to stay there without us, ever... that's how badly it affected him.

As far as our "success", we do OK... we both have college degrees and jobs we hate and a mortgage we can barely afford... I do not feel either of us has yet lived up to our potential. And we're happy enough I suppose but I view that as a "no thanks to the spanking!" thing...

[SparklingGemini]

[darcytrue]

I wa spanked as a child and turned out okay. I have issues with my parents now in my adulthood not related to spanking. Iin no way do I condone spanking or accept it in my life now. I don't see how anyone can "prove" its ever a positive discipline.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by darcytrue

I wa spanked as a child and turned out okay. I have issues with my parents now in my adulthood not related to spanking.

See, this is me. My parents were verbally and emotionally abusive so the issues we have don't have anything to do with spanking...in fact, I would have taken a spanking over an hour long berating... even as a teen

[Kailey's mom]

that is just ridiculous

[unschoolinmom]

I wonder if it has to do with the person. I was spanked but it's not the reason I have relationship problems with my parents. My dh was spanked, punished, and so on and he actually respects his parents more. He said he did better in school and it was the reason he got only two points away from a perfect score on his SATs. He believe the discipline helped him and his younger siblings become better people.

I guess each person is different when it comes to how they feel after the way they were raised.

[eclipse]

I hear that wives who are whipped are less likely to cheat on their husbands. . .

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by eclipse

I hear that wives who are whipped are less likely to cheat on their husbands. . .

Wow. Beatin into submission.. gross!

[heartmama]

The study was done by a psychologist at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The college mission statement:

Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college in the Reformed tradition of historic Christianity. Through our learning, we seek to be agents of renewal in the academy, church, and society. We pledge fidelity to Jesus Christ, offering our hearts and lives to do God's work in God's world.

We offer education that is shaped by Christian faith, thought, and practice. We study and address a world made good by God, distorted by sin, redeemed in Christ, and awaiting the fullness of God's reign.

I have no problem with the idea of a reform tradition Christian college. However, the traditional view within that ideology is very pro-spanking, so in terms of 'rebutting' their research claim that spanking yields successful adults, I would say there is a possible conflict of interest...

[DevaMajka]

Does the study say anything about how the non-spanked kids were disciplined? Or the other ways the spanked kids were disciplined?
That could definitely skew the results. It might be that the spanked kids had otherwise decent discipline, and were ok in spite of being spanked. And the non-spanked kids got no discipline, which could be a problem.

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by DevaMajka

Does the study say anything about how the non-spanked kids were disciplined? Or the other ways the spanked kids were disciplined?
That could definitely skew the results. It might be that the spanked kids had otherwise decent discipline, and were ok in spite of being spanked. And the non-spanked kids got no discipline, which could be a problem.

This.

There are all kinds of details missing from that article. Not to mention that just because a child volunteers their time or goes to college does not mean they are well adjusted or happy.

My definition of 'successful' probably varies greatly from theirs.

I call that non-article.

[joanna0707]

Originally Posted by Funny Face

There are all kinds of details missing from that article. Not to mention that just because a child volunteers their time or goes to college does not mean they are well adjusted or happy.

My definition of 'successful' probably varies greatly from theirs.

ditto
very well said

[midnightmommy]

I posted this under the title I'm gonna barf or something like that the other day. I live in GR and woke up to this as a headline on Sunday. Then the local tv station was asking about it on facebook. A ton of people agreed with it under the spare the rod spoil the child argument. It makes me feel just all fuzzy about my neighbors let me tell ya!

I was spanked at a kid, and it made me feel terrible! I didn't do well in school, and was spanked for it regularly. Apparently beating a child can't beat a learning disability out. My son isn't spanked and he is so far doing very well. I think they forget that you can have expectations for your kids without hitting it home. Or perhaps it's because some parents that don't hit aren't as worried about their kids being perfect. I know that for my kids I don't care about college or degrees. I just want them to do something they love.

[nia82]

Thanks for all the digging and answers!!!
What I find so horrible about this blurb is that many parents take that as affirmation to continue to spank or start spanking. It makes me so sick. Sure, DH and his siblings all went to college and are fine people and they were not only spanked but even beat, but I doubt they turned out fine cause of the physical violence they had to endure as children.

[DevaMajka]

Originally Posted by Funny Face

Not to mention that just because a child volunteers their time or goes to college does not mean they are well adjusted or happy.

I didn't even catch that! Do they really think that's the best way to tell if a person is happy and successful in life? jeez.

[prothyraia]

I'm probably not any help, but my rebuttal, in it's entirety, would be: "Oh, Fox News? "

[mrskingred]

Except that unfortunately I first picked up on this article in the UK papers (times, telegraph). Some of the comments are appalling.
I still think that this peer-reviewed study on the damage of spanking is the one to believe. http://www.newscientist.com/article/...s-kids-iq.html