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Home > Blogs > Seen and Overheard > Archives > 2009 > September > 28 > Entry
Do children who are spanked have lower IQs.
This will surely ruffle the feathers of parents who spank.
Sparing the rod may do something better than spoiling he child.
Children who are spanked have lower IQ scores than those who are not, according t a study presented last week at the at the International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma in San Diego.
The new study by University of New Hampshire professor Murray Straus found that children who were spanked had IQs 2.8 to 5 points lower than those who were not spanked.
“All parents want smart children. This research shows that avoiding spanking and correcting misbehavior in other ways can help that happen,” Straus says in a press release issued by his university. “The results of this research have major implications for the well being of children across the globe.”
Straus’ study included 806 children ages 2 to 4, and 704 ages 5 to 9.
For starters, Straus reasons that corporal punishment is extremely stressful and can lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms such as “being fearful that terrible things are about to happen and being easily startled.”
But is this hogwash? Do you think there is a link better spanking and IQ or is the professor on to something?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: talk
Comments
By lawabider
October 1, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this
All kids act up. Maybe it takes people who have thought about it ahead of time to find a different way to deter bad behavior. Alternately, go ahead and spank, rest assured some kids are dumb to begin with. Joking aside, my son struggles enough to understand the natural consequences of his actions. I don’t need to circumvent the lessons in logic that life brings by imposing unnatural consequences. If he dumps all his bubble soap, he can’t blow any more bubbles. Adding “butt hurts” to the consequences would just distract him from the real lesson.
By Kimberly
October 2, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
Spanking is a “last resort” type of punishment in our home. Only after our child has been sent to time out and scolded, and yet they repeat the offense, do they get a spanking. We have discussions with our our child as to why they choose to do what they did, and why it is wrong to do those things. When our child knows better and does it anyways, then they know that there will be a punishment. Consequences come with choosing to do the wrong thing throughout your whole life. BTW we dont spank past 6 yrs old. They get “bootcamped” and our child gets to keep their bed, some clothes and their books. They have to earn back the rest. Bootcamp normally only happens once or twice throughout their childhood. Spanking any child all the time as the only form of discipline would be horrible for them.
By curious
October 6, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this
Could it be the other way around? That parents who aren’t as smart or educated spank their children more often causing the children to have lower IQ’s as well? I’m not saying you are stupid if you spank your children. I am just curious and not sold that spanking causes a lower IQ.
By PDeverit
October 15, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this
Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE: Child buttock-battering for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit. Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit. I think the reason why television shows like “Supernanny” and “Dr. Phil” are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do. There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals: Plain Talk About Spanking by Jordan Riak, The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children by Tom Johnson, NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D. Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit www.nospank.net. Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center For Effective Discipline, PsycHealth Ltd Behavioral Health Professionals, Churches’ Network For Non-Violence, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Parenting In Jesus’ Footsteps, Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.