In contemporary parenting, the importance of support and love becomes especially evident when physical punishment is involved.

The Hidden Dangers of Physical Punishment in Child Development

In contemporary parenting, the importance of support and love becomes especially evident when physical punishment is involved. Even in its early stages, physical aggression not only damages a child's self-esteem but also hinders full psychological development. When physical punishment becomes habitual, the child loses the opportunity to learn how to control emotions and understand the consequences of their actions, leading to the formation of enduring fear and depression.

In practice, when adults choose punitive methods instead of calm dialogue, it not only destroys trust between parent and child but also lays the groundwork for serious emotional problems in the future. The child's limited emotional resources and the lack of explanation for the punishment result in the child perceiving physical aggression as an end in itself rather than establishing a moral foundation. This approach deprives them of the opportunity to develop a healthy sense of guilt, which is necessary for self-control and inner harmony.

In summary, the use of physical force in upbringing deals an irreversible blow to a child's psyche. It is important to remember that true parenting should be built on understanding, respect, and genuine care—not on fear and suppression. By creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding, we give the child a chance to become a confident, emotionally resilient individual, capable of regulating their behavior and making wise decisions in the future.

How do ongoing physical punishments affect the formation of a child's personality?

Ongoing physical punishments have a devastating effect on the formation of a child's personality. First and foremost, they contribute to degradation and humiliation, which negatively impacts self-esteem and mental development. As noted in source link txt, "Physical punishment leads to degradation, dehumanization, and humiliation of the child. As a result, the child may feel that whipping is a punishment sufficient in itself. If punished frequently and harshly, the child does not develop the necessary sense of guilt, which hinders the development of a full awareness of oneself as a personality. Without the foundation of unconditional love, the child will not be able to go through all developmental phases, especially identifying with their parents, which will impair the formation of a healthy psyche and self-esteem. Many consider cultivating a sense of guilt undesirable and forget that it also has an important positive aspect."

Furthermore, excessive use of physical punishment interferes with the development of self-control. The same material states that "normal healthy self-awareness, which allows the child to reasonably restrict their behavior, is much more effective than stick-based discipline that instills fear, anger, and resentment." It is noted that if the relationship with the child is built solely on punishment (screaming, slapping, or using a cane), it hinders the development of a normal reactive consciousness and the ability to self-regulate.

Moreover, the lack of explanation for the reasons behind the punishment further exacerbates the child's emotional instability. Source link txt explains, "Upbringing using punishments without explaining their reasons will have consequences in the form of instilling fear and depression. If parents choose to explain to the child why they deserve the punishment, it will help establish mutual understanding and preserve positive family relationships. Understanding the purpose of the punishment can greatly influence the child's future behavior, guiding them toward self-control rather than depression and fear. It is very important that the punishments are fair and justified; otherwise, upbringing risks causing psychological trauma."

Finally, it should be considered that the use of physical punishments is often driven not by concern for the child's development, but by the adults' emotional reactions. As noted in source link txt, "Not because we want him to reform. If we truly wanted that, we wouldn’t shout; we would try to reach his heart, his conscience—we would try to revive that conscience, so that it would make him reflect on his misdeed and overcome it. Awakening conscience in a person, even in a small child, is a laborious task. Therefore, people are reluctant to do such work; it is easier to yell, to forbid. And that is exactly what we do. Why does this happen? Because of self-love. This individual irritates me at the moment, and I pour my irritation onto them, thus satisfying my own self-love, acting as I please: right now, I want to unleash some malice—and I do so immediately. Formally, we seem to wish them well, telling the child not to do wrong, but the effect is the opposite."

Thus, ongoing physical punishments result in a child developing in an atmosphere of fear, depression, and insufficient emotional support. This negatively affects their ability to regulate emotions, develop self-control, and form a healthy self-awareness, which in the long term may lead to serious psychological problems.

Supporting citation(s):
"Physical punishment leads to degradation, dehumanization, and humiliation of the child. As a result, the child may feel that whipping is a punishment sufficient in itself. If punished frequently and harshly, the child does not develop the necessary sense of guilt, which hinders the development of a full awareness of oneself as a personality. Without the foundation of unconditional love, the child will not be able to go through all developmental phases, especially identifying with their parents, which will impair the formation of a healthy psyche and self-esteem. Many consider cultivating a sense of guilt undesirable and forget that it also has an important positive aspect." (source: link txt)

"Normal healthy self-awareness, which allows the child to reasonably restrict their behavior, is much more effective than stick-based discipline that instills fear, anger, and resentment. Clearly, consciously restraining one's behavior within reasonable limits is better than poor self-control or a complete lack of self-control. If you want to hinder the development of a child's normal reactive consciousness, which allows them to control their behavior, build your relationship with the child on punitive measures like yelling, slapping, or especially using a cane." (source: link txt)

"An injured, unprepared body of a rebel, ready to lose self-control and clumsily using force, may prove more dangerous than its mentally weak and dependent peer. Upbringing using punishments without explaining their reasons will have consequences in the form of instilling fear and depression. If parents decide to explain to the child why they deserve the punishment, it will help establish mutual understanding and preserve positive family relationships. Understanding the purpose of the punishment can strongly influence the child's future behavior, guiding them toward self-control rather than depression and fear. It is very important that the punishments are fair and justified; otherwise, upbringing risks causing psychological trauma." (source: link txt)

"Not because we want him to reform. If we truly wanted that, we wouldn’t shout; we would try to reach his heart, his conscience—we would try to revive that conscience, so that it would make him reflect on his misdeed and overcome it. Awakening conscience in a person, even in a small child, is a laborious task. Therefore, people are reluctant to do such work; it is easier to yell, to forbid. And that is exactly what we do. Why does this happen? Because of self-love. This individual irritates me at the moment, and I pour my irritation onto them, thus satisfying my own self-love, acting as I please: right now, I want to unleash some malice—and I do so immediately. Formally, we seem to wish them well, telling the child not to do wrong, but the effect is the opposite." (source: link txt)