" He goes on to say, "And don"t tell me "all those kids need is a good swift kick in the behind". How do you think most of them got to be so angry in the first place? By gentle, reasoned, loving and informed parenting and teaching?".
The primary lesson many children learn about being spanked is to try harder in the future not to get caught. Spanking may work as a quick, short-term consequence that doesn"t require much thinking on the part of the adult or the child, but does it stop the behavior in the long run? It certainly doesn"t teach acceptable behavior. What can also happen if the spanking doesn"t work immediately, the punisher must increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of the spankings until they do work. This is why spanking when ineffective can escalate into abuse.
Further, do children learn self-control when spanking is used as a form of punishment, or do they learn only to behave when the punisher is around? When the punisher is not around there is no motivation for the child to follow the rules.
The American Academy of Pediatrics in a 1995 research project suggested spanking might be the least effective form of punishment. Many say, "I was spanked as a child and I"m okay", but according to Dr. Susan Forward, author of Toxic Child, "Many of the time honored techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation are quite simply bad advice masquerading as wisdom." .
It seems amazing that in a time when technology is moving so swiftly and we accept the new and more improved innovations without question, parents are so resistant to read and listen to the new research that suggests there are better, more effective ways to handle children other than spanking them.
Research goes on to say that spanking increases antisocial behavior such as cheating, lying, disobedience at school and breaking things. Children will go to whatever lengths they need to protect themselves from being hit by their parents and primary care givers.