Using Corporal Punishment the Right Way

Today, many are against the use of corporal punishment in disciplining children. Scotty and Andrew discuss their criticisms and how to use corporal punishment to bring about positive outcomes for child and parent.

The Innerfire Podcast

[leosailor]

The burden is on the advocates of corporal punishment to define where the line between appropriate punishment and abuse is. When does corporal punishment become abuse?

[ImperatorZor]

"corporal punishment has fallen out of style"
Just like Slavery, Feudalism, Torture, etc.

[valeriek]

If you can’t picture Jesus spanking a child don’t do it to yours. The word for discipline is disciple (to guide in the right direction). You want to guide your child in the right direction through the teaching of Christ not by demanding submission, inducing fear and silencing the child which causes long term psychological trauma.
We wonder why so many Christian’s struggle with addiction when addiction is directly associated with trauma. When you spank a child (physical pain) you teach them to comply instead of learning how to regulate emotions versus shutting into self and looking for outlets of connection.
The rod is not for hitting but got guiding sheep to the right direction. Jesus is the good shepherd, the rod is NOT for hitting.

[singalingalongaling]

There are plenty of ways to discipline children without getting physical. If you can’t hit a dog or an adult, then you shouldn’t hit a child. Kids practice what their parents preach!

[bostonbutterfly]

I was beat as a child. I can clearly remember the fear and the pain but would never be able to tell you what I was to have learned from it. Beating on children is disgusting, don’t do it.

[mastersloseymusic]

I think the common ground we can all meet on is that we all want any child to grow up well-adjusted and not be an absolute tumor on society! The issue, however, is how do we go about the right way to discipline them to get them to that point? Every kid is different and they'll respond differently to whatever kind of discipline is applied to them. Some are easier to raise than others, some of them may need more attention than others and the list goes on.

As far as I can see, the line between corporal punishment and actual physical abuse is totally ambiguous at best, no two people are in agreement with where that line is, if it even exists. The science has been clear on this all across the board for so many years: Corporal punishment of any kind just doesn't produce the meaningful results that we're looking for and has more potential to cause harm in later development. I'd be hard-pressed to find any decent doctor that would even have a positive view on corporal punishment, let alone advocate for it.

[dited]

My parents gave me a choice between physical punishment or "timeout" I often willingly chose physical and I learned that short term consequences are a learning experience you can handle, and far better than the long term suffering that comes from the lack of self dicipline.

Its a valuable lesson that alot of weak narcissists in this comment section clearly haven't learned yet.

[Demonoicgamer]

If you’re a good parent you should teach it’s not appropriate to hit anyone for any reason no matter how angry you are. Also it’s unfair reason 1: they don’t understand why it’s wrong. 2: if they do understand why it’s wrong they don’t appreciate why it’s wrong. 3: if parents mess up no consequences even if there parents are present. 4: your kids could take this as a appropriate response to bullies.

[jamesthelionheart]

Corporal punishment is abuse. Period. You don't need to cause physical pain to a child in order to teach/ discipline them. It's unbelievably obvious. It's going to screw them up in the head the same way it did to me.

[btsfan]

I agree with you, corporal punishment is not abuse, these two things are absolutely separate subjects. Unlike taking away privillages, which makes the child good at hiding objects from the parent, also yielding long-lived trauma and fear of making mistakes, spanking with a wooden spoon, for example, is a one-time thing. The child can't hide itself and they are forced to take the punishment. While objects can be very well hidden, thus avoiding consequences.

[greenearth]

If physical discipline is harmful to children then how come the generation that grew up with no spanking is the most depressed and suicidal of all time? Disciplining should always be done without anger or intent to hurt and shouldn't leave marks or in the face. It should be the last resort but it should be one in case the child is too rebellious and wild. I was disciplined and so was my second brother because we were troublemakers and the only thing we understood was force. My youngest brother wasn't because he was down to earth and well behaved. It depends on the situation and the child.

[writeinreverse]

I'm currently a senior at my Christian high school, and each year, the seniors have to write a thesis paper that is both socially controversial and biblically defendable. This is what my topic is on, so this video was very very helpful :) Thank you so much for this point of view, especially for giving the biblical perspective on it. I love to see facts that are backed by the Bible. You guys did awesome and this was very informational!

[cdawg]

Corporal punishment is no different to child abuse and it is illegal in many countries and that number is thankfully growing.
Don't wait for it to be outlawed, be civilised and choose for yourself that you won't stand for child abuse anymore.

[SarahPody]

This is complete BS anyone who hits a child isn't a good parent

[Granta_Omega]

I agree on one point that the studies don't differentiate between different types of physical discipline. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, a series of swats to the behind that don't cause excruciating pain is not physically equal to a beating that causes bruises. However, it doesn't necessarily mean the first method is okay either. The cause and effect or the action and consequence can be done in other ways that are just as or more effective and more natural or logical.

Even if not abusive, a spanking is not a logical or natural consequence to any particular behavior. For example, if my teenager doesn't get his homework done or study for his test because he was spending his time playing on his phone and playing video games instead as well as hanging out with friends, the removal of those privileges, also known as being grounded for a set period of time is a logical consequence, because he abused those privileges by letting them interfere with his priorities, so he doesn't get them for up to a week.

I don't see any way that it would be logical to have him bend over while I give him swats with a paddle as he will make the connection as a logical consequence. I don't find it wrong all the time for younger kids when serious behaviors are committed that talk and other methods haven't worked, but parents still need to realize that punishment will only work for as long as their child is scared of getting a spanking.

[svetavinogradova]

Corporal punishment should be brought back in British schools.

[Lisbett-m]

The rod of discipline in the Bible is referring to the way a Shepherd gently guides his sheep with a rod. Adjusting them and keeping them on a path. This is what is meant by Rod when disciplining children.

[ScanFan_Ed]

I was spanked growing up. It was out of love and I am thankful for it. One question I have is how some feel about when it is administered either pants down, meaning bare bottom. Some of mine were that way.