Overview

A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2014! Why do parents hit those they love? What effect does it have on children? What can be done to end this pattern? These are some of the questions explored in The Primordial Violence. Featuring longitudinal data from over 7,000 U.S. families as well as results from a 32 nation study, the book presents the latest research on the extent to which spanking is used in different cultures and the subsequent effects of its use on children and on society. Evidence that shows the relationship between spanking and the subsequent slowing of cognitive development and increase in antisocial and criminal behavior is shown. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are explored in an accessible fashion. An abundance of high quality research has produced findings that are highly consistent from study to study which show that spanking is a risk factor for aggressive behavior and other social and psychological problems. Because of these findings, the authors argue for policy changes and recommend a drastic reduction in the use of spanking. Policy and practical implications are explored in most chapters. The Primordial Violence highlights: The benefits of avoiding spanking such as the development of better interpersonal skills and higher academic achievement; The link between spanking and behavioral problems and crime; The extent to which spanking is declining and why despite the unusually high level of agreement between numerous studies which found harmful effects from spanking, most parents continue to spank. Part 1 documents the worldwide use of spanking and why parents spank. The possible adverse effects of spanking on children’s behavior and academic achievement, and the potential for violence and criminal behavior in later life, are explored in Parts 2, 3, and 4. Part 5 examines trends in spanking, and suggests what can be done to lower the percent of parents who spank. Contradictory opinions about whether to spank are explored. The book concludes with a call for change in this aspect of parenting which will have profound benefits, for the children and families involved, and society as a whole. Intended for a general audience of readers who are interested in child development and parenting and for advanced undergraduate and/or graduate courses in child abuse, family violence, juvenile delinquency, criminal behavior, social development, sociology of the family, or parenting and family relations taught in psychology, human development, family studies, criminology, education, social work, sociology, and social policy.

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9781848729537

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Reviews

This is a much needed work which will contribute significantly to the field. ...There is no doubting its relevance or quality of its scholarship. ... The strength of the book is 40 years of research and accumulating knowledge. - Penelope Leach, University of London, UK This book is ... accessible to people outside of academia, and the background and reasons for suggesting a stance against [corporal punishment is] well documented and explained. ... [It will] be a very useful tool for professionals who work with families, and ... as a ... supplement for college courses that deal with the topic of parenting, child guidance & discipline, or family violence. - Brigitte Vittrup, Texas Women's University, USA This clear and persuasive book will have a large audience. The quality of the scholarship is high. ... It will be of keen interest to scholars who attend NCFR, SRCD, SRA, and other family- and child-oriented meetings ... and to a general audience. ... I would like my graduate students to read [it] ...so that they can get a feel for how science is done. - Patricia K. Kerig, University of Utah, USA The authors ... presented convincing longitudinal research evidence in support of their anti-spanking arguments. ... It has significant practical implications for parenting. ...[It] ...is easy to understand and follow. ...Relevant as a supplementary textbook for postgraduate courses on child development, child psychology, criminology, family violence, pediatrics, education, social work, and sociology...this book undoubtedly fills a hole in systematic research evidence on spanking. - Chan Yuk-chung, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Attractive to researchers, graduate students, policymakers, and community leaders who are interested in understanding and preventing family violence ... I would ...use [it] for my ...course on children and public policy and for a ...course on family violence [and] ...recommend it to colleagues for its comprehensive review of data on both the use of and effects of corporal punishment in the U.S. and internationally. - Elizabeth Gershoff, University of Texas at Austin, USA

An impressive review of decades of research, this book will be a critical resource for academics and all who seek an end to everyday violence against children. - Joan E. Durrant, University of Manitoba, Canada The Primordial Violence is a milestone in research on the causes and consequences corporal punishment. Murray Straus and his co-authors convincingly demonstrate the huge social costs of spanking children across the world. - Manuel Eisner, University of Cambridge, UK In this important and timely volume, Straus and colleagues integrate decades of research on corporal punishment and significantly advance understanding of the causes and consequences of spanking children. This book is critically important to all practitioners and researchers who work to promote the wellbeing of children. - Shawna J. Lee, University of Michigan, USA This is a much needed work which will contribute significantly to the field. ...There is no doubting its relevance or quality of its scholarship. ... The strength of the book is 40 years of research and accumulating knowledge. - Penelope Leach, University of London, UK [It will] be a very useful tool for professionals who work with families and ... as a ... supplement for college courses that deal with the topic of parenting, child guidance & discipline, or family violence. - Brigitte Vittrup, Texas Women's University, USA It will be of keen interest to scholars who attend NCFR, SRCD, SRA, and other family- and child-oriented meetings ... and to a general audience. ... I would like my graduate students to read [it] ...so that they can get a feel for how science is done. - Patricia K. Kerig, University of Utah, USA It has significant practical implications for parenting. ...[It] ...is easy to understand and follow. ...Relevant as a supplementary textbook for postgraduate courses on child development, child psychology, criminology, family violence, pediatrics, education, social work, and sociology...this book undoubtedly fills a hole in systematic research evidence on spanking. - Chan Yuk-chung, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Attractive to researchers, graduate students, policymakers, and community leaders who are interested in ... preventing family violence ... I would ...use [it] for my ...course on children and public policy and for a ...course on family violence [and] ...recommend it to colleagues for its comprehensive review of data on both the use of and effects of corporal punishment in the U.S. and internationally. - Elizabeth Gershoff, University of Texas at Austin, USA

Author Information

Murray A. Straus is Professor of Sociology and founder and Co-Director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire. Emily M. Douglas is Associate Professor of Social Work at Bridgewater State University. Rose Anne Medeiros is Quantitative Methodologist in the Department of Sociology at Rice University.

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