A Third of Germans Still See Spanking as an Acceptable Discipline Method
Third person out of every 3 considers a back slap acceptable. - "Butt slapping deemed acceptable by one-third of population"
Hey there! Let's dive into a controversial topic that's been causing quite a stir - the use of spanking as a form of discipline. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently surveyed Germans, and shockingly, one in three respondents believed that a "spanking" was acceptable for children!
36.9% of the 2,530 representative participants agreed with the statement, "A spanking never hurt any child," on the Day of Non-Violent Discipline. This is a significant drop from the 53.7% agreement in 2016 and the 52.4% agreement in 2020.
The survey also found that 17.1% of respondents thought a "light slap" was appropriate as a disciplinary method - a far cry from the 53.7% of respondents in 2005 who reported using this method in parenting.
However, agreement with the statement, "A good beating never hurt any child," reached a record low of 5.4%, down from 5.9% in 2016 and 7.2% in 2020.
But what's the deal with this so-called "spanking"? Well, it's essentially physical punishment, and it's been under scrutiny for a long time. Organizations like UNICEF have been pushing for its elimination due to evidence suggesting that it can negatively impact children's development and well-being.
Child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Jörg M. Fegert, underscored the importance of this issue, stating, "While the trend is positive, we cannot become complacent." He also highlighted the issue of "neglect, which is violence by omission," as a pressing concern.
UNICEF's legal establishment of non-violent discipline in Germany's Civil Code (BGB) in 1998 was more than just symbolic politics, according to Fegert. It had significant real-world effects on many parents' attitudes and actions.
To give you a broader perspective, it's important to note that UNICEF generally advocates for the elimination of corporal punishment as a form of discipline. In many European countries, including Germany, corporal punishment is banned or discouraged. Despite this, some cultural or societal practices still tolerate physical discipline to some extent.
Experts, in general, stress the need for alternative disciplinary methods that promote positive behavior without resorting to physical punishment. Research often supports this view, highlighting the long-term negative effects of corporal punishment. So, let's all strive for non-violent discipline and create a safer, more loving environment for our children.
- In response to the controversy surrounding the use of spanking as a form of discipline, various community and employment policies have been proposed, aiming to promote non-violent disciplinary methods for the benefit of child health-and-wellness and mental health.
- The BGB, or Civil Code of Germany, has enforced UNICEF's legal establishment of non-violent discipline, recognizing this as an important milestone in promoting science-backed, positive parenting approaches that eschew corporal punishment.
- According to the survey, there has been a gradual decline in the number of respondents who agree with statements sanctioning different forms of corporal punishment, such as "A spanking never hurt any child" or "A good beating never hurt any child." However, over a third of participants still accepted spanking as a disciplinary method.
- In alignment with experts in the field, organizations such as UNICEF and health-and-wellness advocates believe that mental-health therapies-and-treatments should be prioritized to support parents in adopting positive parenting practices and creating a calm, supportive environment for their children.
- When it comes to corporate hiring practices, employers are increasingly emphasizing a commitment to child welfare, either explicitly in their employment policies or through involvement in partnerships with parenting support organizations, as part of larger efforts to foster a family-friendly work culture.
