Maternal behaviors and cognitions during discipline episodes: A comparison of power bouts and single acts of noncompliance.

Abstract

Maternal behaviors and cognitions within power bouts and single acts of noncompliance were compared by using 2 methodologies. Ninety mothers completed daily telephone interviews concerning their children's misbehavior for 12 days. Half of the mothers also completed a computerized simulation of 3 different power bouts, and the other half of the mothers completed a similar simulation of 3 sets of single noncompliance episodes. Mothers made behavioral intention choices and rated their perceptions of the child's behavior in the computer simulation. Results indicate that power bouts formed a special class of discipline episodes distinct from single noncompliance. Mothers reported more negative perceptions of the child as well as more aversion during extended power bouts. Discussion focuses on possible different types of power bouts and the need for theories of socialization to include the transactive nature of discipline episodes.

Comparing Child Outcomes of Physical Punishment and Alternative Disciplinary Tactics: A Meta-Analysis

“…Basing effect sizes on simple associations between a disciplinary tactic and a child outcome implicitly compares parents who use that disciplinary tactic with those who do not use it. Instead of choosing between a given disciplinary tactic and doing nothing, parents typically choose between two or more alternative disciplinary responses (Ritchie, 1999). Differences in effect sizes are better suited for such comparisons.…”

Ordinary physical punishment: Is it harmful? Comment on Gershoff (2002).

“…Defiant noncompliance in young children predicts poorer moral internalization as well as a greater risk of antisocial behavior (Kochanska & Aksan, 1995;Loeber & Schmaling, 1985;Lytton, Watts, & Dunn, 1986;Patterson, Reid, & Dishion, 1992). Mothers are also more likely to respond to defiant noncompliance with harsh forms of punishment (Ritchie, 1999).…”

Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review.

“…When they perceive children to be at fault, parents rate harsh corporal punishment (e.g., hitting with an object such as a belt) as less severe than if children were not at fault (Rodriguez & Sutherland, 1999). If children display escalated disobedience (i.e., knowingly disobey after being reprimanded), parents are more likely to use corporal punishment (Gershoff, Miller, & Holden, 1999;Holden, Miller, & Harris, 1999;Peterson et al, 1994; K. L. Ritchie, 1999). What time of day the child misbehaves may determine whether corporal punishment is used, as a majority of spankings occur between 5 p.m. and bedtime (Holden et al, 1995).…”