Not only is spanking alone ineffective, but it can also cause confusion in the relationship between a parent and a child. Spanking frequently and harshly can send mixed signals because the same person whom the child loves and depends on is physically hurting them (Graham, par.9). It can be difficult for a child to understand why the person who is supposed to love and care for them is hurting them, even if the parent calmly explains why, because they child will be scared and distressed (Cook and Kopko, par. 3). Children basically need their parents to survive. It is expected that a child should form a bond with their parent and they should both show each other love and affection, but if a parent is constantly causing pain to the child then the child may not be able to comprehend the situation and the relationship could be tainted or even broken. .
It is one thing for spanking to hurt a child physically because physical pain is only a temporary sensation. Unfortunately the discussion is about not only the feeling of a hand to the backside or the pain of a belt cracking against a childs skin, even though those pictures are violent and difficult to think about, but the discussion is also about the mental torment and confusion a child is put through. The mental damage that can be caused by physical punishment to a child can be clearly seen throughout the adult and adolescent years. Many harmful side effects take several years to show up. The long-term effects are spouse abuse, depression, higher frequency of crime, and lower earnings (Graham, par. 3). In a way, spanking and injuring a child teaches them that they are a victim which causes them to believe they deserve to feel discomfort and suffer. This later leads to authoritarianism in adulthood which is rooted with violence and coercion. Also, these adults authoritarian personalities create violent, aggressive, and antisocial feelings and behaviors which damage their relationships with others (Graham, pars.
