RE: Spanking research

["Thomas R. Chibucos" <tchibuc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, the data Baumrind used are "old."  Also, they are based on an extremely
limited subset of spankers.  In addition, even assuming away all the myriad
of limitations on which the conclusion is based, the headline conclusion
that spanking is OK or not harmful is totally inappropriate.

Straus' work is much more definitive and the conclusions based on that
research (essentially that spanking is at best not an effective disciplinary
technique and at worst that it is harmful) are much more well-founded.  When
Baumrind concludes that one must take account of the context in which
spanking occurs, she has essentially supported Straus' major conclusion.

To wit: Since intensity of spankings, quantity of spankings, parental (lack
of) self-control, warmth of the parent-child relationship, the OBSERVATION
(I speculate) of spanking by other children in the family, etc. etc. are ALL
variables that account for some of the variance in whether the "outcomes"
associated with spanking are good or bad, it is very clear that the best
data-based advice for parents is to not spank their children.

In addition, one of the things buried deep (and getting buried deeper) in
the context of parenting (at least in American society) is the value placed,
not on outcomes, but on the quality of current life.  (Witness the maniacal
focus on "big time" this or that--e.g., the little league world series on
ESPN is almost a caricature.  Little league baseball is for fun, for now,
and for kids to enjoy now...it should not be for adults to sell products, to
relive their own failures better, nor to have a parade.)  Essentially,
Elkind had it right a quarter century ago.



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@xxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@xxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
Susan Mapp
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 2:57 PM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: RE: Spanking research


This was a study that is just being presented at the APA conference, so in
that sense it is "new." It is the data that is old.

Susi Mapp, RGM
x7634


		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Jim Hord [mailto:Jim@xxxxxxxx]
		Sent:	Wednesday, August 29, 2001 1:29 PM
		To:	Child Maltreatment Researchers
		Subject:	Re: Spanking research

		> Although it does date back to 1968, they stopped gathering
data in 1980.
		> Thus the latest data is over 20 years old.

		Hummmmm, doesn't seem to jive with this excerpt referencing
a "new" report,
		although the older study was also described in the
article.......

		"In her new report, Baumrind looked at 164 middle-class
families when their
		kids were preschoolers, in early elementary school and
adolescence.

		Jim Hord