Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families

by Murray A. Straus

Argues that spanking, even when done by loving parents who do not desire to be cruel, only encourages children to believe that problems can be solved by violence

352 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1994

Reviews

[Adam Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book on the psychological damage of physical discipline to children. Unlike Greven's earlier work, which was largely a work of history and the summary of other researchers, Straus's book (which is now about 20 years old) was conducted with original research. He shows conclusively that physical discipline makes kids more delinquint, damages parent-child trust, and vastly increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety, stress or nervous disorders, as well as increases the likelihood that children will engage in violence against their own partners, spouses, and children later in life. Whatever theoretical benefit believed to be derived from physical discipline are almost entirely undermined by the negative consequences.

[Ashley]

In a college Sociology class, we were to write a book report and present it to the class. We each got assigned a different book. I was assigned this one. My professor warned me that when I presented the whole class would get very defensive and tell me things like, “I was beat and I turned out ok.” She was right. I was pretty much attacked by the whole class.

I was beat, too, and this book opened my eyes. I too had the initial “I was beat, but I turned out ok” defensive reaction. But I couldn’t deny the research from the book and as I reflected, I realized I turned out ok not because of but in spite of the beating. I could have maybe turned out a lot better had I not been.

Anyway, I now have a kid and definitely don’t spank her and fully understand the damage doing so could cause. I thank the author of this book for opening my eyes some 20 years ago. It truly put me on a different path and opened my eyes to the idea that just because it’s always been that way, doesn’t mean it should continue to be so.