Early spanking predicts later aggression even after controlling for baseline behavior

Evidence

The study measured spanking at age one and age three, and child behavior problems (aggression, anxiety, cognitive ability) at ages three and five. After controlling for baseline behavior at each age — the design specification that addressed the reverse-causation argument — spanking at age one predicted higher aggressive behavior at age three, and spanking at age three predicted higher aggressive behavior and lower cognitive ability at age five. — , The Rod and the Child, 10307

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Preventive environmental management outperforms corrective discipline in child formation — , The Rod and the Child: A Global History…, 1948; Spanking’s harms persist across all ages, sexes, races, and study designs — , The Rod and the Child: A Global History…, 6472; Spanking frequency predicts the likelihood of escalating to abusive force. — , The Rod and the Child: A Global History…, 6648 (+10 more)

Related

• Frequent childhood spanking independently predicts adult aggression (similarity 0.87)
• Spanking alone produces the same neural threat responses as severe physical abuse (similarity 0.82)
• Spanking’s harms persist across all ages, sexes, races, and study designs (similarity 0.82)
• Longitudinal, neuroimaging, and genetic designs independently confirmed spanking’s adverse effects (similarity 0.81)
• Preventive environmental management outperforms corrective discipline in child formation (similarity 0.81)
• Spanking frequency predicts the likelihood of escalating to abusive force. (similarity 0.80)
• A 75-study meta-analysis ties child corporal correction to aggression and lower cognition. (similarity 0.80)
• Parents who hit tend to hit more over time because escalation is reinforcing (similarity 0.80)
• Meta-analysis of 88 studies found spanking had ten adverse outcomes and one benefit (similarity 0.79)
• Even critics’ own reanalysis showed mild spanking still predicts adverse outcomes. (similarity 0.78)
• Aversive behavioral interventions suppress behavior locally but fail to transfer and cause escalation (similarity 0.78)