No one showed interest in this topic in the debate section, so I bring it to the forum section to start a debate here.
Here is a debate as it would have been done if someone accepted.
I will make my case here. If anyone wishes to refute it, now is your chance to do so.
If you wonder why I didnt present entire case in round 1, but divided it on 4 rounds, I did it simply since character limit allows me that. Normally, when you are short on characters and are starting a debate by going first, you are supposed to present as much of your case as you can in the first round. Since I wasnt short on characters, I went with this option.
Round 1
Topic
In most cases, children who misbehave should not be spanked
Introduction
We all remember that when we were children, we desired love and compassion to make our little hearts feel warm. Children today also desire love and compassion. Adults have a duty to raise children in the best way possible. Every child deserves a chance. If child is mistreated and abused, then can we really blame that child if that child becomes a bad person? Or do we blame ourselves because we didnt provide the nutrition of love that each child needs to be the best it can be. In this topic, we will discuss spanking, and the horrible effects it has on children.
Definition
Spanking - to hit a child with the hand, usually several times on the bottom to cause pain as a punishment.
Arguments
1. Studies
"As recently as 20 years ago, the physical punishment of children was generally accepted worldwide and was considered an appropriate method of eliciting behavioural compliance that was conceptually distinct from physical abuse. However, this perspective began to change as studies found links between “normative” physical punishment and child aggression, delinquency and spousal assault in later life. Some of these studies involved large representative samples from the United States; some studies controlled for potential confounders, such as parental stress and socioeconomic status; and some studies examined the potential of parental reasoning to moderate the association between physical punishment and child aggression. Virtually without exception, these studies found that physical punishment was associated with higher levels of aggression against parents, siblings, peers and spouses."
Studies
2. Causing pain wont cause love
Causing pain to a child will make child feel scared. Child will no longer feel love. Child will think that the action he did was very bad without understanding why is it bad. Child will become a worse person who only refuses to do bad when there is punishment. Causing pain wont cause love.
3. There are better ways than spanking
If child misbehaves, it is often because child wants something. There is no need to hit the child. Just ask the child: "Please calm down. Could you tell me what do you want? Tell me what you want and we will see if we can make it happen.". Solve problems with child with conversations. That way, you will teach a child to solve problems with conversations in the future. There are better ways than spanking.
Conclusion
Studies show that spanking is bad. Causing pain wont cause love. There are better ways than spanking. In most cases, children who misbehave should not be spanked.
Round 2
Arguments
1. Studies
"“It’s a very controversial area even though the research is extremely telling and very clear and consistent about the negative effects on children,” says Sandra Graham-Bermann, PhD, a psychology professor and principal investigator for the Child Violence and Trauma Laboratory at the University of Michigan. “People get frustrated and hit their kids. Maybe they don’t see there are other options.”
Many studies have shown that physical punishment — including spanking, hitting and other means of causing pain — can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children."
Studies
2. Causing pain wont cause love
Causing pain to a child makes child think that its okay for adults to hurt children. It is the worst lesson that adult could teach a child. Child who is in pain will have less opportunity to learn love. Child will often escape in his imagination to a better place where he is not hurt, where he is protected. That imagination slowly fades as adults keep hurting him. Causing pain wont cause love.
3. There are better ways than spanking
Child will improve communication skills and become better at reasoning from early age if they solve problems with conversations instead of violence. Child's communication is important in life, because it enables a child to better bond with others and communicate better, so that child is able to have healthier relationships with others. There are better ways than spanking.
Conclusion
Studies show that spanking is bad. Causing pain wont cause love. There are better ways than spanking. In most cases, children who misbehave should not be spanked.
Round 3
Arguments
1. Studies
"The review, published Monday in the journal Lancet, found physical punishment such as spanking is "harmful to children's development and well-being," said senior author Elizabeth Gershoff, a professor in human development and family sciences at The University of Texas at Austin.
"Parents hit their children because they think doing so will improve their behavior," Gershoff said. "Unfortunately for parents who hit, our research found clear and compelling evidence that physical punishment does not improve children's behavior and instead makes it worse.""
Studies
2. Causing pain wont cause love
Children who are loved are brought up in their full potential. They were given a chance. Children who are in pain werent given a chance. Maybe the misbehavior wasnt their fault. Maybe they were upset about something. Maybe they are misbehaving because they were hurt. Causing pain wont cause love.
3. There are better ways than spanking
Teach a child to behave properly. Tell your child stories. Teach your child morals. Teach your child the ways of peace and nonmaleficence. Set an example. Adult shouldnt hit a child. Adult should be a role-model for the child. Adult who entertains a child and gets child's attention is loved by the child and child will better listen to that adult. There are better ways than spanking.
Conclusion
Studies show that spanking is bad. Causing pain wont cause love. There are better ways than spanking. In most cases, children who misbehave should not be spanked.
Round 4
Arguments
1. Studies
"One of those scientists is Elizabeth Gershoff, professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas. She has spent the better part of two decades trying to figure out whether spanking works. Her most comprehensive study yet, published earlier this month in the journal The Lancet, comes to a definitive conclusion: No."
"...they focused on the long-term effects of physical punishment, such as whether kids who are spanked are more likely to share or, conversely, more likely to have anxiety years down the line.
According to the review, not a single study identified a positive benefit for kids as a result of spanking.
“If spanking worked, we would see children's behavior get better over time, right? That’s the goal. But we don't see that,” Gershoff said."
Studies
2. Causing pain wont cause love
How do you know that child will be better if you cause him pain? How do you know that causing pain to a child fixes something? You dont. You just assume. You use child as an outlet for your anger, when the child needs to be safe from pain. Child needs your love. Causing pain wont cause love.
3. There are better ways than spanking
Some people think that they can raise a child by placing him in a corner and have him be obedient all day. That is an incorrect approach. Child is a living being that needs attention and love. Parents need to be active and provide the attention and love. If child does something bad, there is no need to cause pain to a child. There is no need to yell. Reason with the child. Explain to a child why his actions were bad. Tell him that there are better things to do. Entertain a child into activities that are fun to distract a child from bad activities. There are better ways than spanking.
Conclusion
Studies show that spanking is bad. Causing pain wont cause love. There are better ways than spanking. In most cases, children who misbehave should not be spanked.
