ARTICLE: Children who are spanked have lower IQs

[NY Disney fan]

What do you think of this article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090925/hl_hsn/spankingmaylowerkidsiqs

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

"If you spank, you teach your child that hitting is the way to deal with a situation," she said. "But if you use other methods of discipline, you can begin teaching your child higher-level cognitive skills, self-control, cause-and-effect and logical thinking."

This quote from the article is interesting.

Just last year it was reported that spanking kids increases risk of sexual problems as adults:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-27-spanking_N.htm

Personally - I do not spank nor would I. I see too many parents spank in anger - to me that just says they cannot parent.

 

[SaraJayne]

I think it's BS.

 

[Sparx]

while there is an obvious correlation, its not direct. the researchers weren't necessarily studying spanking, they were probably studying parenting styles in the different levels of developing/developed countries. and yes, certain parenting styles do lower iq averages.

 

[NY Disney fan]

certain parenting styles do lower iq averages.

Can you link something that discusses this..I am very curious.

 

[mjkacmom]

I know it's not true in every case, but I would guess that parents who spank have less education than those that don't. I honestly don't know anyone here who spanks their children.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I also think it's BS. My dh has a BS and I have AAS and we do spank our children on ocassion. Hey, if we didn't spank them, I guess they would be considered "gifted" because both are very smart.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

I think it's BS.

I second that.

 

[Jennasis]

I was spanked as a child and have a fairly high IQ.

 

[JAM61]

Homer Simpson says that you can do a study to come up with all sorts of facts and figures that can later on be disputed by another study. I had a co-worker who said she would never spank her child and over the weekend I guess she hit the melting point. I was "hit" as a child and I graduated NYU.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you have to decide what's best for your child!

 

[laurie31]

while there is an obvious correlation, its not direct. the researchers weren't necessarily studying spanking, they were probably studying parenting styles in the different levels of developing/developed countries. and yes, certain parenting styles do lower iq averages.

Exactly.

The parents I've seen who spank for every little thing their kid does wrong seem to also be poorly educated themselves, and have little to no understanding of normal childhood development stages. (in other words, they might expect a 14 month old to sit quietly through a restaurant meal and spank them when they don't).

I also wonder if they read to their children and/or have educationally enriching environments in their homes. My guess is no.

In other words, their kids aren't going to have high IQ's regardless.

I don't think excessive spanking can be good, though. My parents spanked, but it was VERY rare, and for things we had been told already not to do and we willfully disobeyed. We didn't spend our days in fear we were going to get hit if we looked crosseyed at someone, you know? That's a terrible way for a child to live, and I can see how it would have a negative effect on brain development.

 

[sorul82?]

I know it's not true in every case, but I would guess that parents who spank have less education than those that don't. I honestly don't know anyone here who spanks their children.

Hmmm...I have an MBA, my IQ is 136. I SPANKED MY CHILDREN! My children have IQ's of 150, 128, and 130.

BTW, my BG twins just turned 10.

 

[locolala]

My dad spanked us when we deserved it, and he has 2 Masters degrees in psychology. It certainly didn't make me have a lower IQ, I was tested right around 5th grade and was right at the genius point.

 

[Golf4food]

I was spanked by intelligent parents and have a high IQ, college degrees, professional certifications with honors, etc. Statistics can say whatever you want them to say. And 80% of statistics are made up anyway. See, I just did one right there.

(And there is a big difference between a rare spanking and a constant stream of swats for every little thing.)

 

[Serena]

B.S.



There are all kinds of studies to say whatever you want them to say, it all depends on the motivations of the people doing it.

 

[KAMKIM]

I know it's not true in every case, but I would guess that parents who spank have less education than those that don't. I honestly don't know anyone here who spanks their children.

 

[Chicago526]

I can see how spanking constantly for every little thing could have a negitive impact on child development. But I don't think the occasional swat on the butt when richly deserved would be a problem. My brothers and I all turned out normal, got spanked on average of maybe 2x a year until we were too old spank, I'd guess.

 

[mjkacmom]

Hmmm...I have an MBA, my IQ is 136. I SPANKED MY CHILDREN! My children have IQ's of 150, 128, and 130.

BTW, my BG twins just turned 10.

Which is why I said it's not true in every case... I think there is more spanking going in poorer areas, which usually means less education. My point is that I don't think spanking lowers a child's IQ.

 

[ZachnElli]

My dh and his brother both have very high IQ's, I know my dh's is around 160 and I'm sure his brother's is even higher and their mother beat the living daylights out of them. They also grew up dirt poor. Needless to say I think this new article is BS also.

 

[bookgirl]

I think the IQ and education of the parents has more to do with a childs IQ then whether or not they were spanked. Maybe parents with lower IQ and less education spank more, hence thier children who are not cognitivly chanllenged have lower IQs. Honestly your butt is not connected to your brain, I highly doubt the actual spanking is what causes a lower IQ.