Commentary: Changing the Social Norm about Corporal Punishment
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Commentary: Changing the Social Norm about Corporal Punishment Viola Vaughan‑Eden1 · George W. Holden2 · Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc3 Published online: 18 December 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract Evidence for the detrimental effects of corporal punishment (CP) on children has been borne out by more than 50 years of empirical research. However, in the United States, many parents continue to use and have favorable attitudes toward CP, reflecting an entrenched social norm. This commentary provides a review of the findings from two studies on how parents’ perceptions of CP are influenced by social norms (Fleckman, Taylor, Theall, & Andrinopoulous, Child Adol Soc Work J. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-018-0581-1, 2019; Klevens, Kollar, Rizzo, O’Shea, Nguyen, & Roby, Child Adol Soc Work J, 2019). We briefly describe how these articles fit into the considerable body of CP literature. We then examine some of the findings and strengths of the studies, as well as suggest future research inquiries. Next, we describe the current efforts to change the social norms regarding the reliance on CP in the United States, including the recent statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics opposing CP. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of an emerging, yet promising practice towards changing beliefs and behaviors—the establishment of No Hit Zones (NHZs). Corporal punishment (CP) has negative physical and cognitive effects on children and can lead to child maltreatment (Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016). Despite the many risk factors that have been identified in the research literature, arguably the single greatest risk factor for children is society’s attitude about physical discipline (Klevens & Whitaker, 2007). Many people may have forgotten that just 30 years ago anyone could smoke cigarettes anywhere—including on planes and even in hospital rooms with the patients present! Yet, mass media implemented public awareness campaigns to effectively change attitudes toward smoking as well as practices. Such a change is needed now with CP.
* Viola Vaughan‑Eden vvaughan‑[email protected] George W. Holden [email protected] Stacie Schrieffer LeBlanc [email protected] 1
The Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504, USA
2
Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, 6116 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1300, P.O. Box 750442, Dallas, TX 75275, USA
3
New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Center & Audrey Hepburn CARE Center at Children’s Hospital, 200 Henry Clay Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Each year for the past several years, more than 100 new studies appear in journals concerning the CP of children. Those new studies build on the more than 1200 that have already appeared on the topic since the 1940s. The vast majority of the studies address parental CP but more attention is beginning to focus on paddling and other forms of CP in the school, both in the U.S. (e.g., Gershoff & Font, 2016) and around
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