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what is corporal punishment

by Kathlyn Crooks MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Corporal punishment is the appropriate discipline for certain children when used in moderation.
  • Corporal punishment sets clear boundaries and motivates children to behave in school.
  • Corporal punishment is often chosen by students over suspension or detention.

Full Answer

What does law say about corporal punishment?

Legal Definition of corporal punishment. : punishment inflicted on a person's body — see also cruel and unusual punishment. Note: The prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution imposes limits on the use of corporal punishment on convicted offenders and prisoners. The U.S. Supreme Court has found the Eighth Amendment …

What are the positive effects of corporal punishment?

Sep 16, 2014 · Corporal punishment encompasses all types of physical punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, and hitting with an object. It also may include forcing a child to consume unpleasant substances such as soap, hot sauce, or hot pepper.

What do you think about corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide. Prohibiting its use raises the status of the child in society, and can have a positive effect in reducing other forms of violence against children.

How did corporal punishment affect you?

Mar 06, 2022 · Corporal punishment is the purposeful infliction of pain as punishment for wrongdoing. The term often specifically refers to hitting the person receiving punishment repeatedly with an instrument, such as a cane or a ruler, though it also applies more generally to any kind of pain infliction as a punishment.

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What are examples of corporal punishment?

Examples of physical punishment include:spanking (one of the most common methods of physical punishment)slapping, pinching, or pulling.hitting with an object, such as a paddle, belt, hairbrush, whip, or stick.making someone eat soap, hot sauce, hot pepper, or other unpleasant substances.

What is corporal punishment on a child?

Corporal punishment is the intentional use of physical force to cause bodily pain or discomfort as a penalty for unacceptable behavior. Corporal punishment includes any action that produces discomfort, such as: Spanking, hitting, slapping, pinching, ear pulling, jabbing, shoving, or choking.

What defines corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment is a discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child's unacceptable behavior and/or inappropriate language. The immediate aims of such punishment are usually to halt the offense, prevent its recurrence and set an example for others.

Why is it called corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment is derived from a Latin word meaning body. It meant physical punishment and in the past, it was very common. In the past corporal punishment was by no means limited to children. It was used on adults as well.

Is hitting a child illegal in India?

India. In India, corporal punishment is banned in schools, daycare and alternative child care institutions. However, there are prohibitions of it at home.

Is it okay to beat your child with a belt?

Hitting a child with a belt or an extension cord can cause severe bruising, painful welts, and even lacerations. Hitting a child with a switch can open wounds in their skin that will bleed, and may lead to infection. Either way, as soon as an object is involved, the chance of lasting injuries becomes significant.May 21, 2020

Why do parents punish their child?

Parents observe the child's reaction in the short term—the child is upset and stops the behavior—so, they conclude it is an effective teaching tool. Parents also believe that the punishment promotes effective child socialization because it teaches the child what not to do.Feb 1, 2017

How do you punish a child without hitting them?

Ten Alternatives To Spanking By Destry MaycockGive choices. A choice gives some control back to the child on the parents' terms. ... Take a timeout. Yes, you the parent walk away. ... Get someone else involved. ... Teach them what you expect. ... Recognize their positive behaviors. ... Timeout. ... Consequence. ... Pick your battles.More items...

Is corporal punishment good or bad?

There is general consensus that corporal punishment is effective in getting children to comply immediately while at the same time there is caution from child abuse researchers that corporal punishment by its nature can escalate into physical maltreatment," Gershoff writes.

Which countries use corporal punishment?

Afghanistan.Brunei.Iran.Malaysia.Qatar.Singapore.Taiwan.United Arab Emirates.More items...

How do you punish a child severely?

10 Healthy Discipline Strategies That WorkShow and tell. Teach children right from wrong with calm words and actions. ... Set limits. ... Give consequences. ... Hear them out. ... Give them your attention. ... Catch them being good. ... Know when not to respond. ... Be prepared for trouble.More items...•Nov 5, 2018

Is corporal punishment a workout?

The core issue is that administering or withdrawing physical activity as punishment is inappropriate and constitutes an unsound education practice. Exercise used as punishment is considered a form of corporal punishment in many states (e.g., California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii).

What is corporal punishment?

e. A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which is intended to cause physical pain to a person. When it is inflicted on minors, especially in home and school settings, its methods may include spanking or paddling. When it is inflicted on adults, it may be inflicted on prisoners and slaves .

When was corporal punishment eliminated?

By the late 20th century, corporal punishment had been eliminated from the legal systems of most developed countries. In the twenty-first century, the legality of corporal punishment in various settings differs by jurisdiction.

What was Locke's work?

Locke's work was highly influential, and may have helped influence Polish legislators to ban corporal punishment from Poland's schools in 1783, the first country in the world to do so. Corporal punishment in a women's prison, USA (ca. 1890) Batog, corporal punishment in the Russian Empire.

What punishments did Sparta use?

Some states gained a reputation for their cruel use of such punishments; Sparta, in particular, used them as part of a disciplinary regime which was designed to increase willpower and physical strength. Although the Spartan example was extreme, corporal punishment was possibly the most frequent type of punishment.

What was the Byzantine Empire's belief in corporal punishment?

Their belief that the emperor should be physically ideal meant that such disfigurement notionally disqualified the recipient from office. (The second reign of Justinian the Slit-nosed was the notable exception.) Elsewhere, corporal punishment was encouraged by the attitudes of the Catholic church towards the human body, flagellation being a common means of self-discipline. This had an influence on the use of corporal punishment in schools, as educational establishments were closely attached to the church during this period. Nevertheless, corporal punishment was not used uncritically; as early as the eleventh century Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury was speaking out against what he saw as the excessive use of corporal punishment in the treatment of children.

Why do hunter-gatherers use corporal punishment?

Diamond suggests this may be because hunter-gatherers tend to have few valuable physical possessions, and misbehavior of the child would not cause harm to others' property.

Which countries still use corporal punishment?

Around 33 countries in the world still retain judicial corporal punishment, including a number of former British territories such as Botswana, Malaysia, Singapore and Tanzania. In Singapore, for certain specified offences, males are routinely sentenced to caning in addition to a prison term. The Singaporean practice of caning became much discussed around the world in 1994 when American teenager Michael P. Fay received four strokes of the cane for vandalism. Judicial caning and whipping are also used in Aceh Province in Indonesia.

What is corporal punishment?

Updated June 30, 2019. Corporal punishment is a physical punishment which inflicts pain as justice for many different types of offenses. This punishment has been historically used in schools, the home, and the judicial system.

What is the difference between corporal punishment and judicial punishment?

The main difference between this type of punishment and the others explained above is that judicial corporal punishment is systematic. It is not an individual choice of the person in power, but a regulated punishment that is generally uniform across punishers.

Why is corporal punishment still domestic?

This type of punishment is still domestic because the method of discipline was fully within the control of the boss or owner.

Why is corporal punishment used in schools?

Corporal punishment has been used widely in schools for thousands of years for legal and religious reasons and has spawned old proverbs such as “spare the rod and spoil the child,” which is a paraphrase of the biblical verse, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”.

What punishments were used in the 20th century?

By the middle of the 20th century, most Western nations, and many others throughout the globe outlawed corporal punishment.

What is punishment for children?

Committee on the Rights of the Child defined it as “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort.”.

Is corporal punishment outlawed?

Corporal punishment exists in varying degrees of severity, from spanking, often used on children and students, to whipping or caning. Currently, severe corporal punishment is largely outlawed.

What is corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment encompasses all types of physical punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, and hitting with an object. It also may include forcing a child to consume unpleasant substances such as soap, hot sauce, or hot pepper.

How does corporal punishment affect children?

Corporal punishment also damages the relationship between kids and their parents or caregivers. 3  Trust, stability, safety, and security are the keys to helping children develop the skills they need to manage their behavior. Corporal punishment erodes that relationship and makes behavior management more difficult.

How many people support spanking?

For instance, the poll found that older generations are more accepting of spanking with 88% of mature parents, 85% of baby boomers, 8 2% of Gen X parents, and 7 2% of Millennial parents approving of corporal punishment. 6 

How to discipline a child who refuses to go to time out?

Here are some discipline strategies you might try implementing. Take away certain privileges , such as electronics, for 24 hours. That will hurt more than a spanking will. Place a younger child in time-out. If your child refuses to go to time-out, take away a privilege.

Which countries have banned corporal punishment?

Many countries have banned any type of corporal punishment, including spanking. Sweden became the first country to ban corporal punishment in 1979. Since then, other countries such as Germany and Brazil also have made spanking children illegal.

What is the role of teaching children acceptable behaviors?

Teaching children acceptable behaviors, including how to make good choices and exercise self-control, is an integral part of child-rearing. But, many parents rely on physical punishments to accomplish these goals.

Why is discipline important for kids?

As a result, it is best to use strategies that will help your children learn from their mistakes while also cultivating better decision-making skills. These skills will help them make better choices in the future.

Why is corporal punishment important?

Ending corporal punishment is therefore key not only to ending all violence against children, but to reducing violence across the whole of society in the longer term .

What is the purpose of prohibition of corporal punishment?

IV. V. Prohibiting corporal punishment is about ensuring children are equally protected under the law on assault – whoever the perpetrator and whether or not the assault is inflicted as “discipline” or punishment. As the smallest and most vulnerable members of society, children deserve more, not less, protection from assault.

What is the goal of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children?

End Corporal Punishment aims to end legalised violence against children through universal prohibition and elimination of all corporal punishment. Through the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, we work as a catalyst promoting progress towards ending all corporal punishment through a range of activities, including:

What is the most common form of violence against children?

Corporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide. Prohibiting its use raises the status of the child in society, and can have a positive effect in reducing other forms of violence against children.

What is the purpose of legal prohibition?

The primary purpose of legal prohibition is educative – providing a clear statement that any level or form of corporal punishment is no longer acceptable – rather than punitive. Corporal punishment violates children’s right to respect for their human dignity and physical integrity, as well as their rights to health, development, ...

Is corporal punishment a form of violence?

Research has found adults who have experienced corporal punishment in childhood have been found more likely to accept or experience violence, including intim ate partner violence, either as a victim or perpetrator, and be involved in other violent and criminal behaviour.

How is punishment administered in school?

In a school setting, this type of punishment is often administered via a spanking or by smacking the misbehaving student's hand or wrist. Most countries have outlawed the practice of inflicting pain to modify child behavior in the classroom.

What countries use whippings?

For example, many Islamic countries employ whippings for various offenses. Canings are common in countries like Singapore for offenses such as theft and vandalism. Punishments of this kind that are dictated by law should not be confused with capital punishment, which involves the implementation of the death penalty.

What is a Greer Hed?

Greer Hed. Caning is a form of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment is the purposeful infliction of pain as punishment for wrongdoing. The term often specifically refers to hitting the person receiving punishment repeatedly with an instrument, such as a cane or a ruler, though it also applies more generally to any kind ...

What is the purpose of the judicial system?

It is sometimes used by parents against their children, by teachers and school administrators against students who misbehave, and in many parts of the world, by the judicial system as an additional deterrent to criminals.

Is it illegal to spank a child?

In some countries, it is illegal to spank a child because the act is considered a form of child abuse. When a child is spanked by his or her parents, it is referred to as domestic or parental corporal punishment. Spanking one's own child is sometimes viewed as a form of abuse and is illegal in many countries, but it remains legal in ...

Is corporal punishment still in effect?

Opponents claim that these punishments achieve the opposite of what they set out to do, leading to further bad behavior. Judicial corporal punishment is still in effect in many places worldwide, and usually involves whipping, caning, or flogging. For example, many Islamic countries employ whippings for various offenses.

What is Corporal Punishment in Schools?

Corporal punishment is physical punishment administered by teachers and other educational administrators to students. This is given to enforce school rules when they are disobeyed.

Types of Corporal Punishment

There are many different types of corporal punishment, including slapping, paddling, and pinching. These three will be discussed below. There are also many other forms of corporal punishment, and the preferred form of corporal punishment varies according to the dominant culture in a country or region of a country.

Examples of Corporal Punishment

There are many examples of corporal punishment and its applications. It originated as a form of punishment to be used in an educational setting, and it expanded to home use and in other contexts.

Pros and Cons of Corporal Punishment

While corporal punishment was used for many decades to control students in educational contexts, it has been noted that corporal punishment can cause significant negative outcomes for the relationship between the teachers and their students, as well as in other facets of the student's life, such as their home life.

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Scope

  • UNICEF’s data from nationally representative surveys in 56 countries 2005–2013 show that approximately 6 out of 10 children aged 2–14 years experienced corporal punishment by adults in their households in the past month. On average, 17% of children experienced severe physical pu
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Consequences

  • Corporal punishment triggers harmful psychological and physiological responses. Children not only experience pain, sadness, fear, anger, shame and guilt, but feeling threatened also leads to physiological stress and the activation of neural pathways that support dealing with danger. Children who have been physically punished tend to exhibit high hormonal reactivity to stress, ov…
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Risk Factors

  • There are few differences in prevalence of corporal punishment by sex or age, although in some places boys and younger children are more at risk. Children with disabilities are more likely to be physically punished than those without disabilities. Parents who were physically punished as children are more likely to physically punish their own children. In most of the countries with dat…
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Prevention and Response

  • The INSPIRE technical packagepresents several effective and promising interventions, including: 1. Implementation and enforcement of laws to prohibit physical punishment. Such laws ensure children are equally protected under the law on assault as adults and serve an educational rather than punitive function, aiming to increase awareness, shift attitudes towards non-violent childre…
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Who Response

  • WHO addresses corporal punishment in multiple cross-cutting ways. In collaboration with partners, WHO provides guidance and technical support for evidence-based prevention and response. Work on several strategies from the INSPIRE technical package, including those on legislation, norms and values, parenting, and school-based violence prevention, contribute to pre…
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Overview

A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which is intended to cause physical pain to a person. When it is inflicted on minors, especially in home and school settings, its methods may include spanking or paddling. When it is inflicted on adults, it may be inflicted on prisoners and slaves.

History

Author Jared Diamond writes that hunter-gatherer societies have tended to use little corporal punishment whereas agricultural and industrial societies tend to use progressively more of it. Diamond suggests this may be because hunter-gatherers tend to have few valuable physical possessions, and misbehavior of the child would not cause harm to others' property.

International treaties

Key developments related to corporal punishment occurred in the late 20th century. Years with particular significance to the prohibition of corporal punishment are emphasised.
• 1950: European Convention of Human Rights, Council of Europe. Article 3 bans "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".
• 1985: Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, or Beijing Rules, United Nations (UN). Rule 17.3: "Juveniles shall not be subject t…

Modern use

66 countries, most of them in Europe and Latin America, have prohibited any corporal punishment of children.
The earliest recorded attempt to prohibit corporal punishment of children by a state dates back to Polandin 1783. However, its prohibition in all spheres of life – in homes, schools, the penal system and alternative care settings – occurre…

Rituals

In parts of England, boys were once beaten under the old tradition of "Beating the Bounds" whereby a boy was paraded around the edge of a city or parish and spanked with a switch or cane to mark the boundary. One famous "Beating the Bounds" took place around the boundary of St Giles and the area where Tottenham Court Road now stands in central London. The actual stone that marked the boundary is now underneath the Centre Point office tower.

In popular culture

Art
• The Flagellation, (c.1455–70), by Piero della Francesca. Christ is lashed while Pontius Pilate looks on.
• The Whipping, (1941), by Horace Pippin. A figure tied to a whipping post is flogged.

See also

• Campaigns against corporal punishment
• Chastisement
• Child discipline
• Disfigurement
• Hotsaucing

Further reading

• Barathan, Gopal; The Caning of Michael Fay, (1995). A contemporary account of an American teenager ( Michael P. Fay ) caned for vandalism in Singapore.
• Gates, Jay Paul and Marafioti, Nicole; (eds.), Capital and Corporal Punishment in Anglo-Saxon England, (2014). Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer.

Corporal Punishment Definition

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Corporal punishment exists in varying degrees of severity, from spanking, often used on children and students, to whipping or caning. Currently, severe corporal punishment is largely outlawed. In many countries, domestic corporal punishment is allowed as reasonable punishment, whereas in others, such as Sweden, all phy…
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Corporal Punishment in Schools

  • Corporal punishment has been used widely in schools for thousands of years for legal and religious reasons and has spawned old proverbs such as “spare the rod and spoil the child,” which is a paraphrase of the biblical verse, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” However, this type of punishment is not limited to Christian-majority n…
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Corporal Punishment in The Home

  • Physical punishment in the home, however, is much more difficult to regulate. In regards to children, it has a similar historical precedent as this type of punishment in schools. According to a report by UNICEF, more than a quarter of caregivers in the world believe that physical punishment is a necessary aspect of the discipline. Many countries that expressly prohibit corporal punishm…
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Judicial Corporal Punishment

  • While it is less practiced today, physical punishment of criminals, known as judicial corporal punishment, is still in effect. Judicial corporal punishment is now outlawed in most countries in the Western Hemisphere but is legal in some other regions, and the most common punishment is whipping or caning. The main difference between this type of punishment and the others explain…
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Conclusion

  • While corporal punishment is phasing out of use legally and socially, it is still a tradition and is passed down through generations regardless of legality. It is an especially difficult practice to control because, with the exception of judicial punishment, it is often individual and in the domestic sphere where there is less governmental oversight. However, greater oversight, especi…
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Sources

  1. Gershoff, E. T., & Font, S. A. (2016). Corporal Punishment in U.S. Public Schools: Prevalence, Disparities in Use, and Status in State and Federal Policy. Social policy report, 30, 1.
  2. Arafa, Mohamed A. and Burns, Jonathan, Judicial Corporal Punishment in the United States? Lessons from Islamic Criminal Law for Curing the Ills of Mass Incarceration (January 25, 2016). 25 Indiana...
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1.Corporal punishment and health

Url:https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/corporal-punishment-and-health

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Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

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17 hours ago Mar 06, 2022 · Corporal punishment is the purposeful infliction of pain as punishment for wrongdoing. The term often specifically refers to hitting the person receiving punishment repeatedly with an instrument, such as a cane or a ruler, though it also applies more generally to any kind of pain infliction as a punishment.

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