When a parent smacks a child’s hand or swats their butt, they may think they’ve merely “spanked” their child. So it might be surprising to learn that scholars actually refer to these spanks as “corporal punishment.”
Parents might also find it unsettling to learn that some scholars have described spanking as most children’s “first experience of being the victim of a deliberate physical attack.”
Scientists are trying to understand more about childhood spanking and how it affects the brain. Imaging studies are adding new evidence to spanking research and whether it helps or harms a child.
What Is Disciplinary Spanking?
Spanking is generally considered any smack or swat that is meant to physically hurt but not injure a child. There isn’t a standard, agreed-upon definition, so some scholars or organizations might exclude the use of objects (such as a belt or paddle) in the terminology while others allow it.
