Physical punishment changes children's brains

Even mild physical punishment has the same adverse effects on children's brain development as severe violence, according to research conducted by Harvard University researchers.

There are many different systems of child education today. The use of force, from light spanking to flogging, is considered one of the oldest punishments for actions. From a scientific point of view, such “education” has a predominantly negative effect and over time leads to irreparable and severe consequences for the child.

The use of corporal punishment by adults, which causes pain and physical discomfort to children, is common in many countries of the world, despite the ban in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. According to statistics, in the United States alone, almost every second family periodically practices this type of "education". Society has an ambiguous attitude to this issue: some express an extremely negative opinion, while others see no other way out of the situation. Scientists are sure: corporal violence always has a detrimental effect on a child, even if it is a mild form of impact. According to research, there is a strong relationship between physical violence and the development of anxiety or depressive states, cognitive problems, mental disorders throughout life, even in remote periods. According to available data, at the level of neurobiology, physical punishment is perceived by children as hard as extreme types of violence.

Scientists studied information about several hundred children aged 3-11 years who lived in families that did not practice severe forms of violence. All the children tested underwent MRI of the brain: during the procedure, the children were asked to look at a screen showing people with different expressions of emotions. Using a scanner, the scientists recorded the characteristics of the children's brain activity when they reacted to one or another facial expression of the actors. Children whose parents used physical methods of education showed an increased reaction to negative images on the screen. In particular, increased activity was observed in the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex, including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, bilateral frontal pole and left middle frontal gyrus.

The findings suggest that physical punishment can redirect nervous system responses in a negative direction in the same way that more severe forms of abuse occur.

Experts recommend abandoning such methods of influence to avoid negative and long-term impact on the child. Psychologists advise replacing spanking with conversations that allow the child to learn to control and manage his behavior.