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Impact of Harsh Punishments on Child's Brain

Punishments are sometimes unavoidable to teach important life lessons to children. However, harsh punishments can have devastating effect on their brain development and emotional health. Read on to learn more about the harmful impact of harsh punishments on your child’s brain.To be a successful and well-mannered human being on growing-up, children must be disciplined by parents and school teachers. Although, physical beating and punishments are discouraged by child psychologists, parents still use the same old wooden stick to teach their child a lesson. However, they are unaware of the dangers involved, as punishment can have its own adverse effects.According to paediatric research, it is seen that children who were regularly spanked or punished by their parents had a greater tendency to develop aggression, resorting to physical abuse, unacceptable social behaviour as a teenager, dependence on substance abuse and juvenile delinquency. In this articleAggressionInsensitivity to ViolenceImpaired Emotional DevelopmentMental Health IssuesJuvenile DelinquencyDamaged ParentChild Relationship1. AggressionPhysical punishment such as beating or pushing can induce feelings of aggression in young children as they are unable to vent out their anger in front of their parents. This also leads to a general desire for revenge underneath, though it may seem to stop the bad behaviour temporarily. It is also seen that children who were regularly punished at home by their parents grew up to be bullies so that they can assert their authority elsewhere other than at home, which is why counsellors encourage school bullies to be examined and treated as well.2. Insensitivity to ViolenceChildren are actually very easy learners; therefore, regular punishment causes them to accept that violence is the only way to solve disputes. In such a manner, they do not learn important life lessons such as negotiation, tolerance, reasoning and adjustment. Punishment also desensitizes them towards violence in other situations since that is the only thing they know to fulfil their desires. The lack of such values also makes it hard for them to maintain relationships and friendships in later life.3. Impaired Emotional DevelopmentScars of punishment need not always be physical, but it damages the emotional development of a child all the same. Punishment such as insulting the child or taunting him or her can cause him or her to develop low self-esteem which again harms his or her personal relationships. He or she would prefer to stay detached and isolated which can again lead to brain damage, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and general lack of interest in daily activities as teenagers.4. Mental Health IssuesEmotional frustration in children can develop dangerous situations in teenagers who become victims of exclusion and isolation. They find difficulty in trusting people and fail to develop relationships. In adult life, these symptoms can go on to take forms such as depression, poor social skills and suicidal thoughts.5. Juvenile DelinquencyIt is seen that most child criminals come from backgrounds that advocated violence in their parenting. Such children go on to become delinquents in incidents of snatching, thieving and eve-teasing, which can end up in unfortunate situations. This phenomenon occurs as frustrated teenagers are unable to deal with the emotional stress of harsh punishments they had faced as a child, which makes them turn to similar groups. Unable to take professional therapy, violence becomes their refuge to hide their depression and anger at their guardians.6. Damaged Parent-Child RelationshipThough the above effects of punishments can have devastating effect on the child by themselves, harsh methods in the form of both physical and emotional abuse can ruin the child’s trust and respect for his or her parents. A child has a feeling of a secure attachment to his or her parent, which gets shattered by a blow or an insensitive word. Depressed and stressed parents are more likely to punish their child, which leads to the symptoms as given above.To discipline, it is best to use love and understanding with a moderate amount of strictness. Attention should also paid to as to why the child is indulging in bad behaviour and check for possible signs of early frustration. With some care and help of a therapist, you can re-establish that loving bond with your child and build a secure relationship together again.Is it necessary to punish children? Why is it necessary to punish children? What are the effects of harsh punishments on child’s brain development? Discuss here.

To be a successful and well-mannered human being on growing-up, children must be disciplined by parents and school teachers. Although, physical beating and punishments are discouraged by child psychologists, parents still use the same old wooden stick to teach their child a lesson. However, they are unaware of the dangers involved, as punishment can have its own adverse effects.

According to paediatric research, it is seen that children who were regularly spanked or punished by their parents had a greater tendency to develop aggression, resorting to physical abuse, unacceptable social behaviour as a teenager, dependence on substance abuse and juvenile delinquency.

1. Aggression

Physical punishment such as beating or pushing can induce feelings of aggression in young children as they are unable to vent out their anger in front of their parents. This also leads to a general desire for revenge underneath, though it may seem to stop the bad behaviour temporarily. It is also seen that children who were regularly punished at home by their parents grew up to be bullies so that they can assert their authority elsewhere other than at home, which is why counsellors encourage school bullies to be examined and treated as well.

2. Insensitivity to Violence

Children are actually very easy learners; therefore, regular punishment causes them to accept that violence is the only way to solve disputes. In such a manner, they do not learn important life lessons such as negotiation, tolerance, reasoning and adjustment. Punishment also desensitizes them towards violence in other situations since that is the only thing they know to fulfil their desires. The lack of such values also makes it hard for them to maintain relationships and friendships in later life.

3. Impaired Emotional Development

Scars of punishment need not always be physical, but it damages the emotional development of a child all the same. Punishment such as insulting the child or taunting him or her can cause him or her to develop low self-esteem which again harms his or her personal relationships. He or she would prefer to stay detached and isolated which can again lead to brain damage, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and general lack of interest in daily activities as teenagers.

4. Mental Health Issues

Emotional frustration in children can develop dangerous situations in teenagers who become victims of exclusion and isolation. They find difficulty in trusting people and fail to develop relationships. In adult life, these symptoms can go on to take forms such as depression, poor social skills and suicidal thoughts.

5. Juvenile Delinquency

It is seen that most child criminals come from backgrounds that advocated violence in their parenting. Such children go on to become delinquents in incidents of snatching, thieving and eve-teasing, which can end up in unfortunate situations. This phenomenon occurs as frustrated teenagers are unable to deal with the emotional stress of harsh punishments they had faced as a child, which makes them turn to similar groups. Unable to take professional therapy, violence becomes their refuge to hide their depression and anger at their guardians.

6. Damaged Parent-Child Relationship

Though the above effects of punishments can have devastating effect on the child by themselves, harsh methods in the form of both physical and emotional abuse can ruin the child’s trust and respect for his or her parents. A child has a feeling of a secure attachment to his or her parent, which gets shattered by a blow or an insensitive word. Depressed and stressed parents are more likely to punish their child, which leads to the symptoms as given above.

To discipline, it is best to use love and understanding with a moderate amount of strictness. Attention should also paid to as to why the child is indulging in bad behaviour and check for possible signs of early frustration. With some care and help of a therapist, you can re-establish that loving bond with your child and build a secure relationship together again.

Is it necessary to punish children? Why is it necessary to punish children? What are the effects of harsh punishments on child’s brain development? Discuss here.