Disciplinary Technique Research Articles

Students’ Perception of Spanking as a Disciplinary Technique

Students’ Perception of Spanking as a Disciplinary Technique

Lingering shadows of childhood corporal punishment: Family trajectories across decades

AbstractObjectiveCorporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide. This study adopts a life course perspective to examine associations between childhood corporal punishment and distinct multi‐decade family trajectories from young adulthood to middle adulthood in China. Specifically, it examines how childhood parental punishment shapes later family life course trajectory patterns, incorporating partnership, marriage, and fertility outcomes, and considers different sources of punishment (maternal and paternal) and potential gender differences (sons and daughters).BackgroundAccumulating evidence reveals that corporal punishment is not only unnecessary as a disciplinary technique but also harmful to children. This evidence has led to a worldwide movement to eliminate any non‐accidental use of physical force against children. However, previous research often assesses isolated family outcomes without considering family development as a dynamic and interconnected process, resulting in an ambiguous understanding of childhood corporal punishment's long‐reaching influence on unfolding family pathways.ResultsResults uncovered both stability and diversity in Chinese family trajectories, with the majority following stable marital norms. Experiencing childhood corporal punishment increased the odds of an early unstable trajectory characterized by divorce and remarriage. Moreover, the implications of childhood paternal punishment appeared more wide‐ranging than maternal punishment in terms of sorting into normative versus atypical family trajectory patterns. Childhood maltreatment also overrides influences of child gender, similarly impacting future family trajectories across genders.ConclusionThis research highlights the profoundly disruptive effects of corporal punishment on family development throughout the lifespan, carrying important implications for fostering healthier and more resilient families.

Review: Contemporary Political Cinema, by Matthew Holtmeier

Review: <i>Contemporary Political Cinema</i>, by Matthew Holtmeier

Paradox of Patient-Centered Care and the Implications for Patient Involvement in Continuing Professional Development.

Patient-centered care (PCC) is widely considered as essential in chronic disease management. As the underlying rationale for engaging patients in continuing professional development (CPD) is commonly described as fostering care that is more patient-centered, we hoped to understand the discursive conditions for how educators and health professionals can (or cannot) learn with, from, and about patients. Using diabetes as a case, we conducted a Foucauldian discourse analysis of an archive of relevant policy documents, professional and educational texts, to explore different conceptualizations of practice and the implications for PCC. We also conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of physicians to understand their experiences in providing and teaching PCC. We sought to understand: How has PCC been discursively constructed? Whose interests does advocating PCC serve? What are the implications for patient involvement in CPD? We describe three discursive constructions of PCC, each extending the reach of biomedical power. PCC as a disease intervention emphasizes knowing and relating to patients to normalize laboratory test results. PCC as a form of confession promotes patients to come to their own realizations to become responsible for their own health, but through the lens and evaluation of physicians. PCC as a disciplinary technique makes visible the possibility of using a checklist to judge physician competency in providing PCC. PCC may be constructed in ways that paradoxically reinforce rather than challenge conventional, provider-centric paradigms. Our results challenge educators to acknowledge the existence and effects of discourses when involving patients in the planning and delivery of CPD.

Philosophy of Education: Overcoming the Theory-Practice Divide

I argue that philosophy has a dual role in teacher education: first, it prompts teachers to take individual responsibility for and become more reflective about the values expressed by their teaching practices so as to enable them to teach with greater authenticity; second, it provides teachers with a disciplinary technique that is useful in the facilitation of student reflection and dialogue so as to enable students to think and live more authentically. In this paper, I focus on the former and suggest that because teaching practices are expressions of values, teachers need to become more aware of competing conception of the human good(s)—including their own—and how these inform their relationship to disciplinary expertise, educational institutions, and teaching. I argue that authentic teaching necessitates: a conviction that individuals are improved, as human beings, by what it is they study; a deepening engagement with what this conviction means; and a commitment to its truth by way of how one engages with one’s discipline and students. It is in this regard that I explore Plato’s dialogue Gorgias, in particular, the example of Socrates, his conversations with Callicles, as well as his distinction between sophistry/pandering and educating/healing. In the final part of the paper, I argue that, assuming I am correct about the necessity and value of teaching authentically, philosophy—conceived of as honest, rigorous, ongoing, open-ended and dialogical engagement with our convictions—should be an integral part of any good teacher education program.

As tecnologias de poder no diagnóstico da pandemia da COVID-19

Este artigo retoma os conceitos de poder disciplinar e biopoder em Michel Foucault para, então, fazer um diagnóstico do contexto pandêmico causado pela Covid-19. Ao se considerar que mais da metade da população mundial foi orientada ao isolamento social, bem como à alteração de hábitos cotidianos a fim de diminuir a propagação do vírus SARS-CoV-2, é possível perceber em Foucault as medidas da técnica disciplinar e da tecnologia biopolítica, ambas direcionadas à preservação da vida da população. Considera-se que o poder disciplinar e o biopoder funcionam na atual pandemia num contexto inédito, marcado pelo avanço tecnológico.

Nurses' attitudes towards support for and communication about sexual health-A qualitative study from the perspectives of oncological nurses.

To explore nurses' articulations of support and communication regarding sexual health with patients. Sexual health is adversely effected by cancer and various oncological treatments. Patients' often have the experience that healthcare professionals do not talk about sexual health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven nurses in Southern Sweden. Content analyses were made, inspired by Foucault's concepts of power, discipline and normalisation. SRQR checklist was used. Patients' sexual health had low priority in the oncological clinic from the perspective of nurses. The medical logic directed nurses' articulations about sexual health towards a physical view, understood as sex, and sexual problems, which could be treated pharmacologically. Further, nurses articulated a sexual norm that sex belongs to young people and younger persons in permanent, monogamous and heterosexual relationships. This norm-governed nurses' inclusion and exclusion of patients in communication about sexual health. According to nurses, most patients did not mention sex, but some patients challenged the clinic's norms. Assessing sexual health problems, nurses often engaged other professions and thereby became gatekeepers for patients' options for getting help. From the perspective of nurses, nurses' support and communication regarding sexual health with patients with cancer diagnosis were relatively absent and had a low priority in an oncological clinic. Overall, the nurses had the power to set the agenda about patients' sexual health in the oncological clinic. The clinical gaze became a disciplinary technique that tacitly defined by whom, in what way and how sexual health could be articulated in an oncological clinic. By illuminating nurses' preconceptions, thoughts and actions in relation to cancer patients' sexual health, the results invite practitioners to reflect upon and discuss the challenges, opportunities and limitations in providing inclusive and supportive sexual health care to cancer patients.

Exploring the reciprocal relations between mothers' and fathers' use and attitudes of corporal punishment in China: A cross-lagged analysis.

Corporal punishment is a commonly used form of disciplinary technique. Sanctified parental attitudes of corporal punishment have been found to be a significant predictor of parental use of corporal punishment in previous research, while little is currently known about the reciprocal relations between parental use and their attitudes of corporal punishment. This research aimed to examine the reciprocal relations between mothers' and fathers' use and attitudes of corporal punishment in China. Data were collected on a total of 320 Chinese father-mother dyads with their children (10-11 years of age at baseline) through convenience sampling techniques at two time points, one year apart. Parents completed self-report measures of mothers' and fathers' use and attitudes of corporal punishment. Children completed self-report measures of parental corporal punishment. The cross-lagged analysis indicated that parental attitudes of corporal punishment in a given year predicted their use of corporal punishment in the subsequent year both for mothers (β = 0.15, p < .01) and fathers (β = 0.10, p < .05), while their corporal punishment in a given year did not predict their attitudes of it in the subsequent year (βs < 0.11, ps > .05). Findings indicate that the reciprocal relations do not emerge, with only attitude-behavior effects being evident for both mothers and fathers, while behavior-attitude effects were not present. Findings in the present study highlight the importance of changing both mothers' and fathers' favorable attitudes toward corporal punishment when conducting appropriate prevention intervention to decrease its use.

Staging Repentance: A Discourse Analysis of Mediated Confession in Xi Jinping's First Five-Year Term

Since Xi Jinping took office as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, he has been tightening ideological control across many fronts. This article investigates how the framing of televised confessions facilitates Xi's rule. Originating from the intra-Party disciplinary technique of self-criticism, the recent resurgence of mediated confessions reflects Xi's pursued strategy in tackling social and political challenges. Applying critical discourse analysis to the case of the disappeared Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, this paper shows the way in which the framing of Gui's televised confession follows Xi's so-called rule of law agenda and selectively appeals to traditional Chinese family values. The paper argues that the propaganda value of the televised confession from a little-known, non-Party confessant lies in its banality, which blends into the Party's everyday narration. The resurgence of confessions might suggest a regression towards Maoist-style campaigns, but more audience-oriented research is needed to address this issue fully.

Excision of Cervical Rib through Supraclavicular Approach

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a clinical condition due to compression of the neurovascular structures, such as brachial plexus and subclavian vessels, during their course between the neck and axilla. Different etiological factors including cervical rib are involved in this diverse group of disorder. Depending on these factors, patients presents with either neurological or vascular compromise. Multiple disciplinary team effort and appropriate surgical technique such as the supraclavicular approach to eliminate the definitive element defines cure in terms of long term functional capacity. We report a case of a 27 year old female who presented with complain of progressive left upper limb pain and paresthesias. We planned an excision of cervical rib with thrombectomy and stenting of the subclavian artery though a supraclavicular approach.

Attitudes, beliefs, and perceived norms about corporal punishment and related training needs among members of the “American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children”

Hitting children for disciplinary purposes (i.e., spanking or corporal punishment [CP]) is a strong risk factor for child physical abuse and is highly prevalent in the U.S. Yet, little is currently known about the relevant attitudes, beliefs, or training needs of key professionals who often advise parents regarding child discipline strategies. A survey of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) membership, comprised of mental health professionals, physicians, child welfare professionals, and other professionals in the child maltreatment field, was conducted to assess attitudes, beliefs, perceived norms, training needs, and motivations to change norms regarding CP (N=571, response rate=51%). Most respondents agreed that spanking is a bad disciplinary technique (82%), is harmful for children (74%), and leads to negative outcomes (M=3.0, SD=0.6) more frequently than positive outcomes (M=2.1, SD=0.6; t=20.8; p<0.0001) for children. Professionals reported perceiving that their colleagues’ level of endorsement of CP (M=2.4, SD=1.0) was higher than their own (M=1.9, SD=1.0; t(568)=−10.7, p<0.0001) though still below the midpoint. Professionals reported high levels of preparedness to effectively advise parents on non-physical child discipline strategies, but reported perceiving lower levels of preparedness amongst their colleagues. They reported highly valuing giving such advice to parents and being very motivated to participate in activities designed to change social norms regarding CP. Most APSAC members are poised to change these norms and, in doing so, to help reduce rates of child physical abuse in the U.S.

Does Subjective Well-being Depend On Childhood Punishment? – An Exploratory Study

In India parents and teacher mostly use corporal punishment as a disciplinary technique. The purpose of the present study is to see whether the effect of corporal punishment continues in adulthood. Further, the study also tries to find out the effect of gender and perceived effect of punishment on SWB and adjustment of young adult. 186 participants (Female 100 and Male 86), aged 19 to 24 years, participated in the study. Results showed that childhood punishment as well as perceived effect of punishment had negative effect on SWB and adjustment of young adult. There was no gender variation on the variables. However, an interactive effect of gender and punishment on both variables was evident. Thus the present study implies that it is necessary to psycho educate authority figure about the negative effect of punishment.

Time tactics: Project managing policy implementation in a network

Projects are ubiquitous throughout the management of public services and the implementation of public policy but implementation processes often remain a ‘black box’. This article argues that technical approaches to project management neglect the role of power. Combining Foucault’s concept of the productive power of governmentality with the notion of timescapes into an analytical lens, the ethnography opens up the black box to reveal how project management functions as a powerful disciplinary technique. I show what escapes the imposed boundaries of the project as, in contrast to rational representations of the linearity of the project life cycle, decisions are retrospectively framed and the past rewritten. Simultaneously, project managers attempt to bring an uncertain future under control, discursively enrolling actors into their visions. Discursive and symbolic meanings of projects link to materiality as resources are represented as plentiful or meagre. Financial year-end exerts a disciplinary force so that time gets compressed and decision making becomes expedient. As resources move between budgets, governmentality is enacted, while budget headings of ‘other’ account for inevitable remaindering. Creative ‘time tactics’ are an adaptive response to achieving externally imposed targets while performing local project success. It turns out that time is at once metaphysical and mundane.

Actuarialism as biopolitical and disciplinary technique

Reporting the costs of pension plans has “challenged the accountant's imagination” (Matthews, 1960) for decades. Recent financial reporting has been under pressure to reveal the more “true” costs of pension plans, even if that means revealing their failing health. As part of this call, the actuarial methodology upon which pension accounting is based has been criticized as being wholly incorrect and responsible for concealing that health. A much understudied profession, actuaries have been implicated in pension accounting from its very beginnings. This study goes back in time to actuarial intervention in industrial pensions in the United States. Drawing upon archival materials from the beginning of the 20th century and ending with the development of Accounting Opinion No. 8: Accounting for the cost of pension plans, published by the Accounting Principles Board in 1966, we develop a genealogy of that profession's connection to pension accounting. We find that the worker was rendered visible and enunciated via actuarial knowledge, and we trace the effects of that enunciation on the relations between the employer and the worker. We also examine the relations between the accounting and actuarial professions, and demonstrate how accounting intervened into actuarial expertise. We find that as a biopolitical technique actuarialism has, in order to predict costs, fit older workers into a system that traces employees' life patterns. In so doing, it only partly “destroyed” the individual subject, while still working as a mechanism that enabled old, and new, forms of individual discipline to exist.

It’s just between girls: Negotiating the postfeminist gaze in women’s ‘looking talk’

Feminists have argued that women’s bodies, appearance, and subjectivity are formed through a multitude of regulatory dispositif and disciplinary apparatus. One such disciplinary technique has been “looking”, evidenced in work on the male gaze, disciplinary power, misrecognition, objectification, and indirect social aggression. But there remains a significant gap in the role of women’s looking in subject formation, particularly within the context of a postfeminist sensibility. To address this gap a poststructuralist informed discourse analysis was performed on interviews with 44 white heterosexual British women (aged 18–36). Four discourses deployed by the participants when talking about looking between women were identified. These discourses were as follows: judgemental looking between women is pervasive; judgement is consumption oriented; women’s looks are prioritised over men’s, foregrounding a female gaze; and appearance is the vehicle to recognition. We conclude by highlighting the importance of a postfeminist gaze for understanding women’s subjectivities, and how looking works in a postfeminist context to maintain regulation, anxiety, surveillance, and judgement.

Pořadový krok jako disciplinační technika těla

This text inquires into the problem of cadenced step as the disciplinary technique of the body, according to theories of Marcel Mauss and Michel Foucault. Author explores historical core of military body techniques in social context, developed by Dutch army reformers Counts of Nassau during 1590s and refined by the Prussian military in 1740s. Author interprets cadenced step inside framework of shifting paradigm of power, as Foucault analyses the sequence of three stages of power emerging during european Early modernity.

Reproducing Deportability: Migrant Agricultural Workers in South-western Ontario

Deportability, or a threat of deportation, can be viewed as a technique of discipline employed to make migrant workers efficient and compliant. Under the threat of deportation, migrants accept dangerous, dirty, degrading and difficult jobs for low pay. Deportability also prevents them from challenging their working and living conditions either individually or collectively. Most of the literature on deportability applies to unauthorised migrants. Yet, as illustrated in this article, migrants employed legally on temporary contracts are also disciplined through a threat of deportation. While for unauthorised migrants, it is the receiving state that is the most important actor (re)creating the regime of deportability, for legally employed migrants, other actors––such as employers, the sending states, recruiters and international organisations––assume a more important role in employing the threat of deportation as a disciplinary technique. In this article, we explore how power is reproduced in this disciplinary regime of deportability. We examine migrants' responses to the techniques of discipline that subjugate them. We argue that when migrants adopt calculative and reflexive practices to avoid deportation and secure their own employment, they often end up reproducing the disciplinary power of the deportation regime.

In Search of Epistemic Freedom: Afro-Caribbean Philosophy's Contributions to Continental Philosophy

In Search of Epistemic Freedom: Afro-Caribbean Philosophy's Contributions to Continental Philosophy

Family discipline incidents: An analysis of parental diaries

This study focuses on day-to-day parental disciplinary techniques, what provokes their use with their preschool children, and their outcome. Two hundred and seven parental diary anecdotes of disciplinary incidents with under five-year-old children, were analysed to determine the sequence of events. Children’s disruptive/aversive behaviour was the antecedent for a parental intervention in one third of the incidents, while making a demand occurred in about a quarter of incidents. Parental verbal instruction was the most commonly used first disciplinary technique followed by verbal warning, time-out and praise. In many situations, parents used several different disciplinary techniques to accomplish a child’s compliance. Children showed the most committed compliance after positive and neutral disciplinary strategies. New Zealand parents were shown to use complex communication, positive consequences, and mild punishment as disciplinary techniques, rather than power assertive or negative methods, and these strategies were on the whole effective.

Children's assessments of corporal punishment and other disciplinary practices: The role of age, race, SES, and exposure to spanking

African-American and Anglo-American children's assessments of four disciplinary methods (spanking, reasoning, withdrawing privileges, and time-out) were investigated with 108 children ages 6–10 years old and one of their parents. Children watched videos depicting a child being disciplined and then rated each discipline method. Reasoning was rated as most fair, spanking as least fair. Spanking was regarded most effective for immediate compliance but not for long-term behavior change. Children with medium high levels of exposure to spanking were more likely to regard it as the best disciplinary technique compared with children with low or high exposure levels. Younger children rated spanking as fairer than older children. No differences were found between African-American and Anglo-American children's assessments after controlling for exposure to spanking and socioeconomic status. Implications about the role of children's assessments of discipline for internalization are discussed.