Should Parents Smack Children

Philosophy and Ethics

BRENT SILBY
Unlimited (UPT)
Should Parents Smack Children

This issue has been surrounded in debate since the government

introduced the anti-smacking law in 2007.

But why are people debating?

Parents believe it is their right to discipline children in whatever

way they see fit.

They believe that smacking is the best way to make children

behave and keep themselves safe.

Example: The kid heading towards a power socket with a knife

Should Parents Smack Children

But doesn’t smacking infringe on a child’s rights?

Is it morally acceptable to use physical force to modify a child’s

behavior?

This debate is always emotional. You hear parents yelling at

cameras stating that they “are good, loving parents” and that they
choose to “deliver a loving smack” to control their children.

A loving smack? Is that different to a “loving kick in the head?”

Let’s look at the situation rationally.

Behavior Modification

We need to define our terminology

When we punish or reward children we modify behavior

Sometimes a punishment might be the result of anger, with no real

desire to modify behavior, but the result is the same.

Behavior will be modified--especially if the punishment occurs

consistently after a specific behavior.

The process of behavior modification is known as conditioning

Behavior Modification

We do this with animals all the time…

In the past, circus animals were trained through punishment while
zoo animals are trained through reward.
Behavior Modification

Positive Punishment
Many people think of smacking as negative reinforcement, but
this is not correct.

Negative reinforcement means removing something undesired,

which results in the strengthening of a behavior.

For example, closing the window to stop the cold wind when the
child does something good.
Behavior Modification

Smacking is positive punishment

The introduction of some noxious event which results in the

reduction of an undesired behavior.

This happens in nature all the time. A lion will take a swipe at a
cub if it’s bugging him.
Behavior Modification

This is instinct, and many cases of human smacking is reflexive

in the same way. The parent feels an instinctual surge of anger
and strikes out.

They probably regret it immediately afterwards.

Behavior Modification

Sometimes a smack is calculated--the result of a rational

decision. This use of positive punishment is at the center of
the smacking debate.

Suppose we accept that positive punishment is the best way to

modify behavior. The question we then need to ask is:

Why must the punishment involve physical pain?

Behavior Modification

We don’t want to teach children that inflicting pain is the best

way to modify behavior. They might go to school and start
hitting their classmates

Children learn from the example set by adults…

Behavior Modification

Why not use another positive punishment?

How about a stern voice?

Or

How about a nasty sounding whistle, which would warn children

about danger and alter behavior.

If this is the real goal of parents, they should not have a problem
with using a loud whistle to modify behavior. Right?
Behavior Modification

Positive Reinforcement

Providing a reward in response to a desired behavior.

We introduce something the child wants with the goal of reinforcing

behavior.

For example: The child picks up his toys, and we reward him with
chocolate
Behavior Modification

Positive reinforcement can be used to shape childrens’

behavior. It just takes longer than punishment.

You can set up secondary reinforcers so that you don’t always

need to use food (a primary reinforcer).
Behavior Modification

Negative Punishment

Removing something the child wants in order to reduce a

behavior is known as negative punishment.

For example: Time out. We are isolating the child from the things
she wants with the goal of reducing the undesired behavior.

This works, especially when combined with positive reinforcement

Behavior Modification

Teachers use Positive reinforcement and negative punishment in

traditional classrooms. They can control 30 kids without physical
punishment, so surely a parent can control 1 or 2 without resorting
to smacking.
Political Correctness

One of the criticisms against anti-smacking is that our society is too

“Politically Correct”, and there is a loss of old fashioned values.

We often hear statements like:

“Previous generations were allowed to smack children, and in those
days society was better”

But is this true? Think about the previous generations:

• Sexism
• Racism
• No youth rights
• World War 2
• No voting for women

Was the past really better?

Smacking and Crime

People claim that our society suffers from a rising youth crime rate

These people often make a connection between anti-smacking and

the rise in crime.

No punishment means kids will get away with anything

Faulty reasoning because the people committing crimes today

were brought up in a society of smacking. Best to wait until this
generation grows up, then look at crime rate.
Children’s Rights vs Parental Rights

Many parents believe they have the right to decide on the best
way to discipline their children.

Making smacking illegal infringes on their right to decide.

But, there is a problem:

There are 2 people involved in the issue--the parent and the child

The child is human should also have rights

Children’s Rights vs Parental Rights

Do children have the right not to be smacked?

If so, there is a conflict of rights. This leaves us with the question:

Does the parent’s right to smack a child outweigh the child’s

right not to be smacked?
Children’s Rights vs Parental Rights

Many people deny that the child has the right not to be smacked.

But why? Surely as a human, the child has the same rights as
other humans.

Maybe this is not true. There are many adult rights that children
do not share:
e.g. The right to vote
Children’s Rights vs Parental Rights

But we can reply by stating that the right to vote is different

to the right not to be smacked.

The government had to choose a minimum voting age. It had no

choice.

The analogy would only work if there were no alternatives to

smacking.

But there are alternatives, as we discussed earlier.

Children’s Rights vs Parental Rights

There is a problem with smacking children because it infringes

on their human rights.

Furthermore, we don’t want to teach children that physical

violence is acceptable in any form.

There are other ways to modify behavior, which means smacking

is not needed.
 Powerpoint by BRENT SILBY

Produced at UPT
Christchurch, New Zealand
www.unlimited.school.nz

Further reading:
www.scribd.com/doc/3602557/Should-Parents-Smack-Children-by-Brent-Silby