Physical punishment: The only legal form of family violence

Despite overwhelming evidence that physical punishment harms children's health and development, it remains legal and prevalent worldwide. We summarize three reasons why physical punishment constitutes a form of violence along a continuum with physical abuse. First, physical punishment and physical abuse are similar acts that involve intentional infliction of pain to control children's behavior. Second, physical punishment can escalate into abuse, as shown by meta-analyses and prospective studies. Third, both forms of violence are linked to similar adverse outcomes, including poorer socioemotional adjustment, mental health problems, and atypical brain functioning. Recognizing physical punishment as violence has critical implications for research, policy, and prevention.