How brain activation patterns in children who have been spanked may be similar to those who have experienced abuse, writes pedipsych
A couple of caveats are worth mentioning, though. One, some of the brain activity differences between the spanked and never spanked groups were because the spanked group hadbrain activity to fearful faces.
Also, the authors had expected to see these differences between the spanked and not spanked group in the amygdala, a brain region that is widely known to be important in the detection and processing ofThe authors concluded that their data support the hypothesis that corporal punishment alters theresponses to threat. However, they had to admit that “it is not possible to draw causal conclusions” because of the nature of the data. Lots of studies like this have this fine print qualification about not drawing causal conclusions, but here it is very important for two reasons. First, the media, of course, did anyway, which is typical. Even Harvard ran with the title “How Spanking May Affect Brain Development” while another prominent title was “Effect of Spanking on Kids’ Brain Similar to Abuse.” Often this can be overlooked because the study authors usually downplay their ability to make causal inferences. Here, however, the design of the study really makes drawing conclusions extremely difficult.which reviews the science on this topic and many others concludes that there is virtually no good data to support its use. The problem, though, is that the ever-increasing mountain of data against it continues to have some of the same methodological problems they’ve had for decades, which makes it all too easy for spanking advocates to simply declare the whole lot of them “flawed” and dismiss them outright. These critiques usually include the following. Not testing for the possibility that it is the levels of negative behavior driving the findings rather than the corporal punishment itself. Not being able to separate the effects of corporal punishment from parental behavior that we know is harmful and is often associated with corporal punishment, like yelling and harsh criticism. Chicken-and-egg problems in determining if corporal punishment is the cause of negative behavior or the consequence of it . The last bullet is hard to overcome in a study without being able to do something like randomization . The first two, however, are more doable and would have been a huge improvement to this study. Had the researchers, for example, compared brain changes that occurred in the spanked group relative to a group of children with similar levels of behavioral problems who had never been spanked , their argument would have been so much stronger than it is currently. In the end, we have one more study to add to a pile of literature on corporal punishment that is large, consistent, and flawed. Hopefully, we’ll see some more research that goes the extra mile and provides fewer reasons for the tenacious group of corporal punishment advocates to ignore it.Cuartas J, Weissman DG, et al. Corporal Punishment and Elevated Neural Response to Threat in Children. Child Development 2021; Apr 9. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13565. Online ahead of print
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Neuroscience of SnackingHow snacking affects reward processing in the brain, writes ocklenBLOG
Read more »
Florida State Attorney's Office: 'No evidence' of crime in child school spanking videoFlorida prosecutors have determined that no crime was committed after video circulated of an elementary school principal using a paddle to spank a 6-year-old girl whose mother secretly recorded it on video and alleged battery and child abuse.
Read more »
Florida principal who spanked student will not face criminal chargesThe state attorney’s office said no grounds exist to charge the principal because the mother of the 6-year-old student 'consented to the spanking,”
Read more »
Failed Professional Sports LeaguesHeralded as a rougher brand of football, fans quickly lost interest when they realized the brain damage inflicted on players wasn’t any more intense than that done in the NFL.
Read more »
Wondering if a Low-Carb Diet Can Help Your Child's ADHD? Here's What the Science SaysA low-carb diet helps the body metabolize energy, which nourishes the brain, and can help your child's brain better handle the ups and downs of ADHD.
Read more »