Moving research beyond the spanking debate
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Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Harriet L MacMillan1, Christopher R Mikton2
1Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, and of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster Innovation Park, Suite 201A, 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Abstract:
Despite numerous studies identifying a broad range of harms associated with the use of spanking and other types of physical punishment, debate continues about its use as a form of discipline. In this commentary, we recommend four strategies to move the field forward and beyond the spanking debate including: 1) use of methodological approaches that allow for stronger causal inference; 2) consideration of human rights issues; 3) a focus on understanding the causes of spanking and reasons for its decline in certain countries; and 4) more emphasis on evidence-based approaches to changing social norms to reject spanking as a form of discipline. Physical punishment needs to be recognized as an important public health problem.
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