The case against physical punishment
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
Published on: March 23, 2022
Andrew Grogan-Kaylor1, Julie Ma2, Sandra A Graham-Bermann3
1University of Michigan-School of Social Work, USA.
Abstract:
We review the literature on parental physical punishment of children, laying out foundations of a case against physical punishment as a form of discipline. We consider the research on physical punishment finding that physical punishment is associated with a number of undesirable outcomes for children and adolescents. We pay special attention to questions of: parent effects versus child effects; whether parental use of physical punishment is moderated by family, neighborhood, or cultural context, and whether physical punishment can be considered to be part of a continuum of family violence. We close with recommendations for positive parenting policies and practices.
Related Concept Videos
Punishment
Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior....
Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
Physical Pendulum
When dealing with complicated systems, the mass moment of inertia is an important parameter, as it...
The Scope of Physics
Solving Problems in Physics
Estimation of the Physical Quantities

