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Sadie Huggins
Rebecca Agosta
UWRT 1102-016
4 November 2014
Annotated Bibliography
How does punishment affect identity?
Coleman, Susan M., and Kristen L. Schmidt. Why 3-Year-Old Children Get Spanked: Parent and
Child Determinants as Reported by College-Educated Mothers. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly. By
George W. Holden. 4th ed. Vol. 41. N.p.: Wayne State UP, n.d. 431-52. Web.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/23087935?seq=2>.
This article focusses on the identity of college educated women who spanked their
children based on their age, race, gender, family income, and marital status. It takes from
many previous studies and compiles the information to show that most of those women
did spank their children, the gender of the child turned out to not have as much effect as
originally assumed. While those who lived in lower income homes seemed to spank their
kids more than higher income homes. The study also showed that children who violate a
moral crime are more likely to get spanked than those who break social convention.
Finally, the study includes that once spanked almost all the mothers concluded that their
child was far less persistent.
This study proves that corporal punishment effects identity in different ways. Depending
on the type of home one grows up can completely change the effect of a spanking, but
overall the mothers agree that their children were far less persistent. Their attitude was
more withdrawn from the negative punishment, or they simply learn from their mistakes
and do not try to push their luck again. This makes one question if they repress their more

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outgoing identity and emotions in order to receive approval, or if they reform their
identity in order to gain social acceptance.

How does corporal punishment affect identity socially, emotionally, and physically?
Debbie, Noell, Maggie, and Kallie. "Effects of Spankings." E-mail interview. 21 Oct. 2014.
Interview
1.
How does punishment affect identity?
-Depending on the punishment, I think it can affect the self-esteem of the individual and how
they, overall, identify themselves.
2.
Does corporal punishment at home affect a child in the classroom? Or as an adult?
-I think it does affect a child in the classroom and as an adult. How they are affected range and
differ with each person though. On extremes, it can break them down or it can build them up.
3.
Does it affect the punisher as much as it does the one getting punished?
-I don't think that the punisher is affected as much as the one getting punished. I could be wrong.
4.
How does a spanking effect one socially, emotionally, and physically?
-Socially, the individual could be more of an introvert and not as outgoing in meeting and
socializing with others. Emotionally, I think their self-esteem and grit could be broken down or
built up. Physically, if the 'spanking' is more brutal, it can harm them physically, whether it's
short-term or long-term.
5.
Does punishment affect you differently if you are a public figure?
-It may because you may feel like you have to be 'perfect' or up to the standards that other
people set for you.
6.
Society now looks down at corporal punishment, what made them change their mind?
-I think as a society, we may be becoming more sensitive and we may 'baby' our next upcoming
generations.
7.
Is positive and negative reinforcement more effective than a spanking?
-I think that positive and negative reinforcement is more effective than spanking in some
situations and with different people. I think it really just depends.
1.
How does punishment affect identity? Punishment impacts a person's self-esteem and
breaks them down.
2.
Does corporal punishment at home affect a child in the classroom? Or as an adult? Yes to
both.
3.
Does it affect the punisher as much as it does the one getting punished? I imagine it
depends...But, I suspect it impacts the one being punished more because it puts them in a
powerless situation.
4.
How does a spanking effect one socially, emotionally, and physically? Often a child who is
physically or emotionally punished will withdraw and become less social. They may be afraid,
anxious, depressed, etc...And physically, they may suffer physically...they will suffer
physically....that can also result in time lost in school.

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5.
Does punishment affect you differently if you are a public figure? Not sure what you mean
by that...
6.
Society now looks down at corporal punishment, what made them change their mind? A
shift in understanding what works and how to intervene and modify behavior... This is a very
simple answer to a complex question.
7.
Is positive and negative reinforcement more effective than a spanking? Yes. Positive
reinforcement is definitely more effective... Negative reinforcement involves removing an
aversive stimulus...
1. I think punishment either strengthens or discourages kids. It depends on the disposition of the
child
2. I think that it does effect the child and it definitely effects them as an adult because then they
base the way they raise their child according to their thoughts/memories and views of how they
were raised.
3. I believe it effects the punished a whole lot more than the punisher.
4. I grew up with spankings and the notion that if you didn't do what you were supposed to be
doing then you would get in trouble and maybe a spanking. I think that there is nothing wrong
with giving your child a spanking; I believe it makes them stronger and makes them realize they
are accountable for their actions.
5. Punishment should not affect you differently if you are a public figure.
6. Like I said before I grew up in the environment that spankings were enforced so I've only ever
known that way but i think a healthy balance of both is best.
1.
How does punishment affect identity?
- It can have an effect on how the child perceives what is right or wrong based on the
consequences to their actions.
2.
Does corporal punishment at home affect a child in the classroom? Or as an adult?
- It could affect a child's perception of who is in charge, because the person in charge of them
punishes them at home. As an adult, they can relate people in charge to their experience as a
child in both the classroom and at home.
3.
Does it affect the punisher as much as it does the one getting punished?
- I don't think parents who decide to punish their children like that necessarily want to do it and
seeing their child sad/ in pain isn't something they want to see. They could feel remorse or
sadness for their child even though they may believe its for the betterment of their child.
4.
How does a spanking effect one socially, emotionally, and physically?
- It could make them uncomfortable with close human contact like hugging, and could make them
withdrawn in themselves to decrease the odds of getting spanked again. Or it could also make
the child lash out in anger and have the opposite effect.
5.
Does punishment affect you differently if you are a public figure?
- Yes because people are always watching your decisions and how you treat your own family.
6.
Society now looks down at corporal punishment, what made them change their mind?
- The amount of violence that has always been there but now shown in the light of media may be
a reason why corporal punishment is looked down on.
7.
Is positive and negative reinforcement more effective than a spanking?
- Yes, because it shows the child they have more power in their emotions and shows that they can

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internally deal with their problems rather than lash out externally by hitting something/
someone.
Effects of Spankings evaluates how corporal punishment affects a childs identity.
Drawing on the opinion of four different UNC Charlotte students, two undergraduates in
the education program, a graduate working on her doctorates in the education program,
and a double major and minor undergraduate who has traveled the world, has evaluated
how their opinions varied throughout the interview. While they agreed that spankings do
affect a child, their ideas of how differs to a certain extent.
Within this interview all agreed that statistically speaking spankings are not approved of
and stated how it can cause a child to become more introverted, shy, and withdrawn.
While they also talked of how not all spankings have negative effects from their own
personal experiences. As discussed in the interview spankings can cause one to
physically shy away from contact with other people, emotionally angered and upset, and
socially withdrawn.

Does corporal punishment affect a child in the classroom or even as an adult?

Kovac, Sarah. "Spanking the Gray Matter out of Our Kids." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan.
1970. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.
Spankings the Gray Matter out of Kids is about the scientific effect of a spanking on
the brain that can travel with one throughout adulthood. The more one is exposed to harsh
corporal punishment as a child can cause damage to the prefrontal cortex which is
directly linked to depression, addiction, and other mental health disorders. The CNN
article goes on to say that the lack of gray matter due to spankings is in direct correlation
to lower scores on IQ test and even a large cause of aggression found in children between

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the ages of 3 and five. Spankings directly impact a childs ability to learn self-control,
have proper cognitive development, and how hostile they act.
This article directly states the effect spankings have on a child that carries with them into
adulthood. They delve deeper into the more scientific effect and the actual loss of grey
matter and what it does to ones prefrontal cortex. By showing that there is a direct
correlation between the dropping IQ scores and spankings prove that there is a major
effect on a child in the classroom with their ability to absorb and learn information. While
this article also argue that later on in adulthood one may have problems with addiction
and even have mental disorders that will affect one for the rest of their life.

Does corporal punishment affect the punisher as much as the one getting punished?

Polit, Daniel. "Adrian Peterson Released Following Indictment for Using a Branch to Spank
Son." Slate Magazine. N.p., 13 Sept. 2014. Web. 03 Nov. 2014.
Robinson, Brenlee. CYCONLINE January 2001: The Effects of Corporal Punishment. Rep. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2014.
The first article on Adrian Peterson talks of how punishing his son cost him his job. The
article goes into great detail to show how unnecessary Peterson use of a hickory switch on his
four year old son was. This article directly shows the effect of punishing ones child can have on
the punisher. Although the punishment, especially in Texas, seemed normal they used the
account of the child to make it seem worse. Although the Vikings star apologized for what he
done and reportedly felt bad for the way he punished his child, did not try to hide what he had
done from press or even authorities. In light of all that has happened to him Peterson argued that
he was simply using his judgment as a father to discipline his child and that he received the same
types of punishment as a child. The second article does not relate as much to the topic but there

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were specific parts that went hand in hand with the response of Adrian Peterson. This article
states that corporal punishment is a way to channel ones anger into punishing the child for
relief; even if it does not stop the particular action from happening again it can cause the
punisher to feel better or not as stressed after spanking their child.
These two articles show the impact that corporal punishment can have on the punisher. Even
through bias articles and blogs they both prove that in some way a parent can receive rebuttal on
their actions against their child and cause them further stress, or it can allow relief of their
aggression toward their child for believing that the punishment fit the crime. Therefore as a
punisher one must evaluate the negative and positive affects the spankings can induce in their
lives. As shown in these articles not always does the punisher get relief or condescending
feedback, but it is possible for one to be majorly effected by their personal actions at home with
their children.