Impact of corporal punishment on aggressive behaviors

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Impacts of Corporal Punishment on Aggressive Behaviors
Corporal punishment remains a contested topic when it comes to understanding the need to limit aggressiveness among children. Parents, psychologists, and parenting experts have been indulged in the debate about the value and validity of corporal punishment to mitigate aggressive behaviors among children. The debate is rooted in the fact that there is a little difference between corporal punishment and physical abuse of the children. While state laws vary on the legality of corporal punishment, the federal government legalizes acts such as hitting with objects, twisting, pulling, pinching, lapping, and spanking as avenues of mitigating corporal punishment. With little literature concerning the subject established, people are left to speculate on the value of corporal punishment. Superficially, however, corporal punishment is closely related to child abuse, could worsen cognitive development of a child, and is believed to worsen the behaviors, aspects that could refute the possibilities of eliminating aggressive behaviors among children through such an approach.
Rationale
The discussions concerning corporal punishments keep taking new turns with every opposing faction implying valid arguments. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement refuting the viability of corporal punishment in mitigating aggressive behaviors in 2017 (Kambuga 183). Their statement would extend into delving on a number of aspects that people should understand about corporal punishment. While defending their position, AAP indicated that teaching children how to control their emotions are more valuable than subjecting them to physical abuse. Further, even if people do not indulge corporal punishment with the aim of harming the children, chances of harm are high. AAP then questions why people cannot take viable avenues such as behavioral changes to institute the desired results in children.
Corporal punishment has also been associated with specific challenges in the recent past. First among the concerns is that corporal punishments can worsen the behaviors. While in the short-term the physical indulgences could instill changes, the results are not long-lasting (Kambuga 190). AAP insists that children whose aggressive behaviors are addressed through corporal punishment eventual develop new and worse behaviors. A simple illustration of the effect is that corporal behaviors teach children to solve their problems through violence. Such children could, later on, develop to bully others or manifest abuse in relationships as a stemming factor from their childhood development (Gudyanga 379). Corporal punishment has also been associated with poor cognitive development. According to AAP reports, children who are subjected to multiple cases of corporal punishment are highly likely to develop low intelligence quotient (Eid). Physical abuse could also lead to mental illnesses and destroy the bond between children and other people including parents, teachers, and friends. With all these factors in place, exploring the value of corporal punishment in addressing aggressive behaviors is necessary.
Hypothesis
This research hypothesizes that corporal punishment cannot help in mitigating aggressive behaviors among children because the act is associated with negative impacts. The objectives of the study are grounded on aspects including the reasons why parents and teachers would rely upon corporal punishment to address behaviors, improvements that could be made to make corporal punishment viable, and the value of corporal punishment in enabling behavioral reflection.
Research Method/Design
Both validity and reliability of a study are linked to the research methodology. Superficially, a research design is a strategy, structure, and plan of investigation that a researcher employs to aid in answering the research questions. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design to arrive at the conclusion. This design was necessary as, through a survey, it is easy to obtain information pertaining to the issues that need address (Kambuga 185). The design also allows the researcher to explore the appropriateness of the views that it collects. The design also marks its strengths by investigating the current status of the matter under investigation. Bearing its random aspects, using a cross-sectional descriptive survey allows for an elaborate inclusion of participants without any biases. The conclusions from such a methodology should be both reliable and valid.
Participants and Procedure
The study was conducted in the greater Boston area. The participants were selected randomly. The population targeted by this study included school teachers, psychology professionals, students, and parents. In the population where data would be drawn, there were 400 teachers, 1,200 students, 40 professionals in psychology, and 500 parents who would be validated for participation. The final participants consisted of 20 students, 20 parents, 15 teachers, and 5 psychology professionals. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews, online interviews, and through questionnaires. The questions would be both closed and open-ended depending on the information needed.
Data Results and Analysis
The data was collected across a n...