ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the problem of corporal punishment in the United States and presents a viable alternative, under the label of "positive parenting". It discusses why corporal punishment, although a widely used form of discipline in the United States, is a violent behavior, and reviews the data regarding Americans' attitudes about and use of corporal punishment. The chapter explains the evidence indicating that parental corporal punishment represents the principal form of violence against children. It describes why corporal punishment is a problematic childrearing behavior by providing a brief summary of the evidence about the problems associated with that form of discipline. The positive attitudes towards corporal punishment found in the United States can also be seen in reported parenting behavior— whether their parents had spanked them or if they spanked their children. Despite its prevalence, there is now extensive evidence that corporal punishment is related to negative outcomes for the child's development and the quality of the parent-child relationship.
