Critically Analyse the evidence about the effectiveness and limits of corporal punishment

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Corporal punishment to modify a child's undesired behaviour is an emotive issue within the general population and for Psychologists it is an extremely complex and challenging research topic. Within my body of work I will endevour to critically analyse and summarise the effective use of corporal punishment; it's effects and limitations; whilst presenting a summary of the phychological evidence both short and long term on childrens behaviour; including two conditioning theroies whilst incorporating and shortly discussing two parenting styles within this essay. My conclusion will compare the main strengths and weaknessess of the evidence presented for both. Debate within the media and psychological fields increased in 2002 when Elizabeth Gershoff published a meta-analytical research paper reviewing the use of corporal punishmentcent by parents. "Incorportated were 62years of research findings; 88 studies of 36,309 children to find association's positive and negative, between the use of corporal punishment in childhood (Dr D.Smith 2002)." Gershoff paper was unbiased and nonsubjective giving the psychological community and the general social arena insight into the compex research findings and this reinvigorated the psychological imaginings and sparked many more complex research papers and meta-anylitical research into the effects and effectiveness of corporal puishment and harm to the child when this strategy was used for disipline. Psychological research theorists analysied Gershoff work itself and included quantifications to her meta-analysis into Corporal Punishment. Firstly it is important to define corporal punishment. "Corporal punishment is the use of force to cause pain, but not injury, f... ... middle of paper ... ...002), and Parke (2002)” Psychological Bulletin, 128(4):602–611. Heaven, P.C.L. and M. Goldstein (2001) “Parental influences and mental health among some Australian youth: Crosscultural analysis” Australian Journal of Psychology, 53(3):170–175. Holden, G.W. (2002) “Perspectives on the effects of corporal punishment: Comment on Gershoff (2002)” Psychological Bulletin, 128(4):590–595. Larzelere, R.E. (2000) “Child outcomes of nonabusive and customary physical punishment by parents: An updated literature review” Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review, 3(4):199–221. Larzelere, R.E. and B.R. Kuhn (2005) “Comparing child outcomes of physical punishment and alternative disciplinary tactics: A meta-analysis” Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 8(1):135–148. 1996, p. 853). Straus, M.A. (2001) “New evidence for the benefits of never smacking” Society, 83(6):52–60.

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