Citation

Holden GW. Psychol. Bull. 2002; 128(4): 590-5; discussion 602-11.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 78712-1189, USA. holden@psy.utexas.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12081083

Abstract

Parental use of corporal punishment has been a contentious child-rearing topic for thousands of years. E. T. Gershoff's (2002) meta-analyses undoubtedly will rekindle the debate over whether parents should spank their children. The quality of the existing data is discussed as well as several surprising findings from the meta-analyses. The effects of corporal punishment are then considered from the perspectives of learning theory, socialization theory, and the child's point of view. Her ecological-process model is then evaluated in light of these perspectives. Research directions and social policy implications are addressed.

Language: en