Communication and Corporal Punishment: The Relationship between Self-Report Parent Verbal and Physical Aggression

Abstract

A two-part study was conducted to determine the relationship between parents' use of verbal aggression and physical aggression (i.e., corporal punishment). In part one, 207 undergraduate students filled out a survey rating their mother's and father's verbal aggression and use of corporal punishment. In part two, mail surveys measuring verbal aggression and corporal punishment were sent to 389 parents; 79% of parents returned the surveys. As hypothesized, there were a significant positive relationships between perceived parent verbal aggression and corporal punishment, as well as between self-report parent verbal aggression and corporal punishment. Additional research questions are tested, and results and implications are discussed.