The impact of physical punishment on children

Abstract

It is usual to draw a distinction between 'normal' physical punishment and physical maltreatment. Most physical punishment would not usually be seen in Western society as physical maltreatment. Parents are allowed to smack their children without fear of public censure. It is important to recognize, however, that this is a value judgment highly influenced by cultural factors. In some societies, and in our own in the not too distant past, severe beating resulting in heavy bruising would not have been regarded as in any way inappropriate if the behaviour that elicited the punishment was regarded as seriously reprehensible. Indeed, for a really serious offence a child could be beaten virtually senseless by his father or by order of the court. In contrast, an increasing number of parents now regard even mild smacking as undesirable. For example, research carried out by the Swedish Save the Children Federation showed that between 1965 and 1981 the proportion of parents stating that children should be raised without physical punishment had doubled from 35% to 71%. 1 It is likely that public opinion has also changed in the UK. Positive and negative attitudes to physical punishment are related to social class and to culture, and they may change markedly over relatively short historical periods. Corporal punishment was only abolished in British schools in 1986, following a long period of opposition by the teacher unions. 1 Yet today a reversion to the use of physical punishment in UK schools would surely be unthinkable to parents and teachers alike. The line between 'normal' physical punishment and maltreatment is, therefore, best seen as socially constructed. Paediatricians also have socially determined attitudes to physical punishment, and their attitudes may not be shared with all the parents with whom they are in contact. This should not be taken to mean that they should condone or omit to report to social service departments physical punishment at a level widely regarded as unacceptable in our society just because the family involved has different values. It does mean, however, that in order to relate well to the family, the paediatrician will need to recognize the difficulties this situation entails. Physical maltreatment does not always arise merely as a severe form of punishment. Parents and other children may, for example, physically abuse a child merely because his presence irritates them. The motivation for physical maltreatment is very varied, though most parents, when pressed, will search for a socially acceptable label to their behaviour and this will usually involve some misdemeanour on the part of the child, however young.