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An analysis of the physical punishment component of a parent training program

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Abstract

One component of a well-researched, standardized parent training program is to spank children for escape from time-out. The contribution of the spanking component to compliance acquisition in a clinic analog setting was evaluated. Time-out duration and child disruption at time-out release were balanced across spank and no-spank (“barrier”) conditions. Sixteen noncompliant, clinic-referred preschool children participated. The data indicated that both spank and barrier procedures were equally effective at increasing compliance ratios. Physical punishment did not appear to be a critical component. Given prior research, it was concluded that the enforcement of a minimum time-out duration is critical for compliance acquisition within the analog setting.

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Reference note

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Idaho State University, 83209, Pocatello, Idaho

    Dan E. Day & Mark W. Roberts

Authors
  1. Dan E. Day
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  2. Mark W. Roberts
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Additional information

The authors wish to express their appreciation to Bryan Hutchinson, Lynn McIssac, Larry Murillo, and Mary Parpal for their assistance in conducting this study.

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Day, D.E., Roberts, M.W. An analysis of the physical punishment component of a parent training program. J Abnorm Child Psychol 11, 141–152 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00912184

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00912184

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