SPANK
Spanking is a form of corporal punishment involving the act of striking, with either the palm of the hand or an implement, the buttocks of a person to cause physical pain. The term spanking broadly encompasses the use of either the hand or implement, though the use of certain implements can also be characterized as other, more specific types of corporal punishment such as belting, caning, paddling, and slippering.
Some parents spank children in response to undesired behavior. Adults more commonly spank boys than girls both at home and in school. Many countries have outlawed the spanking of children in every setting, including homes, schools, and penal institutions, while others permit it when done by a parent or guardian.
Medical organizations discourage its use in favor of healthier discipline strategies.
While most research indicates detrimental effects, including increased aggression and mental health issues, some researchers have pointed out that correlation does not prove causation and argued that the link between punishment and behavioral issues might be explained by reverse causality—whereby children with more challenging temperaments elicit more frequent punishment. A 2024 meta-analysis suggested that the statistical effect of spanking on outcomes was minimal, but this interpretation has been challenged by rigorous longitudinal data. A comprehensive systematic review published in Nature Human Behaviour in May 2025 utilized advanced methodologies to account for baseline child behavior, finding that physical punishment consistently predicts subsequent declines in child well-being and increases in behavioral problems regardless of cultural context, strengthening the evidence for a direct causal link.
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