On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> There is an article in the 99/00 Annual Additions in Child Growth and
> Development that addresses this issue (pp. 156-159). Interestingly, the
> article cites research challenging the notion that spanking psychologically
> damages children, relying primarily upon a review by Robert E. Larzelere.
> Further, "Larzelere's review revealed that no other discipline technique -
> including time out and withdrawal of privileges - had MORE beneficial results
> for children under 13 than spanking..."
>
> I haven't read the original review by Larzelere, just this little review of
> reviews. This does not address the ethical side of the dielmma either,
> which we seem to be mixing into the "scientific" side. The data on spanking
> are plagued with methodological flaws and, often, hidden agendas. I would
> like to add that, Mr. Sylvester's posts, though admittedly strange sometimes,
> do bring up the issue of context into these debates. As a raging
> contextualist, I believe it is perfectly possible that the effects of
> spanking and other behaviors may vary by context, just as attachment and
> other constructs do. Violence may be absolute, but the definition of
> violence varies by culture.
>
> RJ
>
I am reminded of a saying by a famous Sociologist from the University
of Chicago (I W Thomas)that goes somewhat like this:
"if you perceive something as real,it is real in its consequences"
Michael Sylvester,Ph.D
Daytona Beach,Florida
