Abuse of a child would be a lot more severe than breaking out a belt to put a rash on their bottom. If spanking is the way to reinforce dicipline that works best on your child, why not use it? I don't think I would ever spank a child that is not mine though. That's the responsibility of the parent.
But often I have had to baby sit children who are neither praised nor reprimanded by their parents in any fashion. One child I sent to his room for misbehavior and he kicked a hole in the wall in his bedroom. The parents showed an indifference about it and when they got home, he was allowed to go straight to his video games. No reinforcement of any type of punishment. *sighs* I wonder how he's going to turn out...
I believe that the difference between discipline and abuse is that abuse comes out of a lack of control and anger. Abuse is a bully beating on someone who will take it. Discipline is measured out to teach values and lessons from the experience; it's very controlled. Very simply, abuse is the lack of self-control and purpose.
And I know the difference because I have had spankings and have been the victim of abuse. There is no purpose behind abuse but to hurt. And although spankings hurt(not as much abeing abused) you know why you're being punished.
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branchandroot
Re:
Date: 2002-09-23 10:48 pm (UTC)I don't think I would ever spank a child that is not mine though. That's the responsibility of the parent.
But often I have had to baby sit children who are neither praised nor reprimanded by their parents in any fashion. One child I sent to his room for misbehavior and he kicked a hole in the wall in his bedroom. The parents showed an indifference about it and when they got home, he was allowed to go straight to his video games. No reinforcement of any type of punishment. *sighs* I wonder how he's going to turn out...
I believe that the difference between discipline and abuse is that abuse comes out of a lack of control and anger. Abuse is a bully beating on someone who will take it. Discipline is measured out to teach values and lessons from the experience; it's very controlled. Very simply, abuse is the lack of self-control and purpose.
And I know the difference because I have had spankings and have been the victim of abuse. There is no purpose behind abuse but to hurt. And although spankings hurt(not as much abeing abused) you know why you're being punished.