SMU professor Dr. George Holden has gained valuable information that could be the first of its kind regarding corporal punishment in households. The article, which was posted on SMU’s website, claims the data goes to the heart of the debate over whether parents should spank their children.

Dr. Holden, who has published five books and over 55 scientific papers on parenting and child development, asked 37 families to record their evening activities with their children for a span of six days. The study was supposed to just get a peek of daily family life, including dinner, bathing and putting children to bed. But Dr. Holden got much more than he expected.

“Despite the fact that there have been hundreds of studies on spanking, I think with these audio recordings we have the first data of naturally occurring spanking. Virtually all previous studies have relied on verbal reports […]. 

“This study is not affected or biased by memory or attitudes or orientations toward discipline because it’s what’s happening in the home.”

70- to 90-percent of parents practice corporal punishment on their children and most countries on Earth practice it. However, studies have shown that the positive result of spanking – immediate compliance – is outweighed by the future negative consequences, which the article discusses in detail.

The researchers hope their study ultimately will help parents use positive discipline and less punishment.