Why do Brazilian mothers use corporal punishment against their children? A risk factor analysis
Lucia Williams
Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Professor (Full) at the Psychology Department of the Federal University of São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil where she founded the award-winning lab for research and community outreach intervention Laprev - The Laboratory for Violence Analysis & Prevention (working in the areas of family and school violence). Research fellow from Brazil´s National Research Council; Sidnei Sussex College Fellow, University of Cambridge, GB. Has been a visiting professor at University of Mar del Plata and Cordoba University, both in Argentina. Author of several books(including a children´s book) in Portuguese and over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Main awards were "Best Practices in a Perspective of Gender and Etnicity in Health" by the Panamerican Health Organization in PAHO/WHO, Washington, and Child Abuse Prevention from the Women´s World Summit Foundation in Geneva, both in 2009. Has given presentaions in several Universities and conferences throughtou the world, including at the American Psychological Association, and MasterClass at 2 ISPCAN conferences (Calgary & Honolulu). Elected for the ISPCAN Council in 2016.
Abstract
Corporal punishment (CP) is often used as a disciplinary method with the intention to "educate", without the aim of causing damage. Nevertheless, to scholars CP is synonymous to child abuse and, thus, both considered... [ view full abstract ]
Corporal punishment (CP) is often used as a disciplinary method with the intention to "educate", without the aim of causing damage. Nevertheless, to scholars CP is synonymous to child abuse and, thus, both considered modalities of violence against children, as there is enough evidence showing that most cases of physical abuse occur within the context of CP. This study was aimed at describing the sociodemographic profile, family history and disciplinary practices of 40 mothers, perpetrators of corporal punishment (CP) to their children, reasons for aggressions, and possible risk factors. Data were collected through an interview and analyzed by Multiple Correspondence Analysis and qualitatively. Results replicate other published studies in which mothers who use CP face several risk factors throughout life, such as: low education and income; history of childhood CP, Intimate Partner Violence, and sexual victimization at some point in life. Disciplinary practices involved psychological and physical aggression, with threats (95%) and slapping (70%) as most common. Participants justified their aggressions due to “nervousness”, and not as a correction for inappropriate child behavior. The majority of mothers reported feeling sad and sorry after the episodes. The data in general reflected those observed in other studies: the intergenerational practice of violence as a result of the way in which society itself deals with violence. The permissiveness to use corporal punishment as a legitimate way of educating children is a serious factor for its maintenance in successive generations. The social belief that a disobedient child or one who behaves inappropriately deserves to be physically punished is one of the main challenges of Brazil (and elsewhere in the world) when it comes to adopting positive parenting practices. Mothers with the profile found in this study need urgent expert guidance on positive parenting, as well as treatment of possible stress or depressive symptoms.
Authors
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Lucia Williams
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos)
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Paolla Santini
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos)
Topic Area
Physical and Emotional/Psychological Abuse and Neglect
Session
Oral2 » Session 1-Child Physical & Emotional Abuse (11:00 - Monday, 2nd October, S. America)
Presentation Files
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