35.3 CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN EAST ASIA: I CAN’T SPANK MY CHILDREN ANYMORE?

Abstract

As a traditional belief system, Confucianism is deeply embedded in Chinese culture and to some extent in most East Asian cultures. It values good behaviors and regards filial piety as an unconditional obligation of the child. Fathers own absolute parental power authority that cannot be challenged, while teachers are granted equal parental power in school. Historically, corporal punishment was nearly universally accepted and routinely used for disciplinary purposes in East Asia. An increasing commitment has been made to legally protect children from corporal punishment. In 2020, Japan became the second state, after Mongolia, in East Asia to enact prohibition of all corporal punishment of children. In China, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, children are protected from some corporal punishment in certain settings, although it remains largely lawful in the home. To work more effectively with families with belief systems that differ from our own, it becomes vitally important for child and adolescent psychiatrists to understand corporal punishment from a historical perspective and to be aware of cultural factors that could affect parents’ and schools’ choices of child discipline. The presenter will review the history, traditional beliefs, evolving faith in the younger generation, and progress in legal reform to reflect on corporal punishment in East Asia. Through the presentation of available evidence and the use of clinical vignettes, the presenter will portray the current state of corporal punishment in this area. The importance of working with each family’s value system will be highlighted, and strategies to overcome challenges will be discussed. Through acquiring increased cultural awareness of corporal punishment and learning skills to mitigate barriers, attendees will gain expertise in delivering culturally informed care while working with families from diverse backgrounds. Addressing corporal punishment is a particularly challenging task because it is traditionally regarded as a culturally and socially acceptable form of child discipline in certain cultures. Increasing cultural awareness is an essential step to achieving our ultimate goal: spare the rod, treat youth as if they were what they ought to be.