Physical Punishment and the Development of Aggressive and Violent Behavior: A Review

• NCJ Number: 130737
• Author(s): E Kandel
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

While psychologists have separated themselves into camps supporting and refuting the hypothesis that parental use of physical punishment leads to aggressive or violent behavior, there has been no previous review of the literature pertaining to this relationship.

Abstract

In fact, according to the literature, most retrospective and cross-sectional studies have supported a causal relationship between physical punishment and aggression, while prospective studies suggest that punishment may contribute etiologically towards the development of physical behaviors. It appears, however, that the relationship may be valid only for school-age and older males and in more extreme or frequent cases. The studies suggest that low physical punishment can either increase or decrease the likelihood of aggression, while moderate punishment does not increase aggression. The author notes that most studies have failed to control for other factors including child abuse, parental substance abuse, and other parenting characteristics, including high parental warmth or use of reasonable discussion. 1 table and 47 references (Author abstract modified)