Research on spanking by parents: Implications for public policy

Abstract

The focus of this commentary is on whether research can or should be used as a basis for public policy to end use of corporal punishment (CP) by parents. CP is “the use of physical force with the intention of causing the child to experience pain, but not injury, for purposes of correction or control of the child’s behavior.” CP is currently legal in every state of the US and in most other nations. In practice, the difference between corporal punishment and physical abuse hinges on whether the child is injured seriously enough for the case to come to the attention of child protective services, regardless of the intent of the parent. (Author Abstract)