NCJ Number
49005
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 336-354
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
SYSTEMS EMPHASIZING AVERSIVE AND AUTHORITARIAN DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES ARE EXAMINED TO EXPLORE THEIR EFFECT IN STIMULATING DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
RECOGNIZING A GROWING TREND IN THE UNITED STATES TO BLAME YOUTH CRIME ON PARENTAL OVERPERMISSIVENESS, DATA IS USED TO SHOW THAT ALL TYPES OF CRIME, INCLUDING SCHOOL CRIME, DEVELOP WITHIN FAMILIES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS EMPHASIZING AVERSIVE AND AUTHORITARIAN DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES. ALSO, IT IS INDICATED THAT RACISM AND PERSONAL INJUSTICE ARE MORE COMMON IN AN AUTHORITARIAN ATMOSPHERE. OF ALL TYPES OF AVERSIVE BEHAVIORAL CONTROL, CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS BELIEVED MOST LIKELY TO INDUCE AGGRESSION. A THEORY RELATING DELINQUENT AGGRESSION TO THE SEVERITY OF PARENTAL DISCIPLINE IS SKETCHED, AND A NATIONAL EFFORT TO DISCOURAGE THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AS A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE CHILD-REARING TECHNIQUE IS SUGGESTED. SINCE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS SAID TO PRODUCE BOTH FEAR AND ANGER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT ITS CONTINUED USE IN THE SCHOOLS CAN ONLY BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE LEARNING PROCESS. IT IS NOTED THAT MANY WHO STRONGLY ADVOCATE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CLASSROOM HAVE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO FORGO ITS USE IF MORE TEACHERS AND STAFF COULD BE TRAINED IN ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF EFFECTIVELY HANDLING THE TROUBLESOME PUPIL. IT IS URGED THAT A JOINT EFFORT BE MADE TO TRAIN TEACHERS THOROUGHLY IN NONAVERSIVE BUT EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES OF PUPIL CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE SUPPORT OF WELL-TRAINED GUIDANCE PERSONNEL WHO ARE WILLING TO ENTER HOMES AND WORK WITH BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AT THEIR SOURCE IS RECOMMENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)