Spanking has had a controversial history as an element of effective child-rearing. Some Scandinavian cultures have found the practice so abhorrent that it has been outlawed as a form of parental discipline. On the other hand, some private schools and many parents believe it is an effective, socially acceptable, parental choice practice for shaping a child's behavior.

What are the merits of spanking and the potential consequences it holds for a developing child's future behavior? Given what we know about modeling and social learning, is spanking simply another source of information about aggressive behavior? Given what we know about the effectiveness of punishment versus reinforcement, how does spanking change behavior in the long term and short term?

Should this simply be a parental decision, or should there be legislation governing this activity? In particular, does spanking lead children to become more violent?

You MUST use research to support your opinion and provide the source!!