A significant body of research, spearheaded by Dr. Murray Straus, a respected sociologist and co-director of the Family Research Lab at the University of New Hampshire, raises critical concerns about the practice of spanking children. His extensive studies over four decades reveal that spanking not only impairs cognitive development but also increases the likelihood of antisocial and criminal behavior in later life. In his influential book, The Primordial Violence, Dr. Straus synthesizes findings from more than 7,000 American families and a comprehensive 32-nation study, illustrating the pervasive effects of physical punishment across cultures. The book offers compelling evidence that parents often resort to spanking for reasons that extend beyond mere […]
