I recieved the following e-mails from a board certified psychiatrist regarding my poll on spanking. I found them interesting and insightful, and would like to share them with you.

Dear Recipient,

I am sure that you are aware of how controversial this topic is. Because of the extremists ranging from the religions fanatics who believe God directs them to beat their children to the politically correct ones who smugly state that spanking is always wrong, it is difficult to obtain rational and clear data and information on this topic.

For your interest and possible use, I can share with you that in my professional work as a Board Certified Psychiatrist, that I have interviewed a few hundred children personally and have discussed spanking with them. None, that's right, absolutely none viewed spanking per se as abusive in anyway. The factors which affected their subjective assessment of 'being abused' were (1) setting; (2) rational behavior of the spanker; and (3)logical association between the degree of spanking and the wrong committed. To be more specific, if the child were spanked because the parent had been drunk and ill tempered then that was viewed as abusive even if mild in intensity. On the other hand, several describe being spanked with ropes and other rather ominous instruments, but had been spanked for 'smoking in the barn' - risking fire and health dangers, and thus deserving the "thrashing"or for "playing with gasoline and matches" and similar violations. Every single one of these children stated that they were far more upset by being yelled at by an adult out of control than they had been by being spanked by an adult in control and as a logical consequence of misbehavior. I believe that it is fair to say that there are a few middle to upper class boys who are so well behaved and controlled that it is possible to rear them without even the threat of corporal punishment, but for the majority, it is actually silly to believe that one can properly discipline and control a normal boy who should be pushing the limits without at least the credible threat of a few pops to his backside. Individuals who claim that they can control boys without any threat of a spanking are either lying or have simply never dealt with the Tom Sawyer, aggressive, macho, or simple "normal boy" types. They are either childless or they have been around the ultra controlled, intellectual type--or even what could be called the 'sissy or wimp' types. The average, ordinary, challenging type of boy will often intentionally push the envelope until he earns a few pops. With those pops he feels proud that he has had the courage to test the limits. It is absolute nonsense to suggest that parents using a loving approach, using logic, and having some education and common sense on when and how to spank children can, in anyway, harm the child. One could not say that it would "never" take place, but I can say, that in hundreds of instances, I have found the result to be absolutely zero.

At the same time, I can share with you that the 'politically correct' pressures are so high and child protection workers are so extreme, that I must remain anonymous with this communication. However, if you need further comments, I would be glad to respond to you. I have sent this what whatever possible use that you may have for it. Sincerely yours,

A Board Certified Psychiatrist
benign1@email.com

(From the second letter)

Again, let me commend you for the good work that you are doing. There is a need for rational and reasonable information such as you are gathering. The extremes in the corporal punishment discussions never cease to amaze me. In my practice, I have had the occasion to insist that a man not hit his five year old fifty times with a wooden paddle for spilling milk at the table. Likewise, I have given assurance to a nice, educated, and emotionally stable lady that she could, if she so wished, use her light hair brush for a few swats to a rude and intentionally defiant eight year old. (She did and had remarkably positive results.) The recurrent point being that there may well be situations in which reasonable corporal punishment may be applied with careful guidelines without excessive concern for future adverse consequences. Boys far more often than girls will seek out situations requiring a few swats and respond more positively than girls. The majority of girls can be controlled by simply telling them that a certain behavior displeases you. Very young children should not be "spanked" but might benefit from 1 or 2 swats when they venture into the street or do other dangerous things. Rarely should a child be spanked who is over 12. Therefore, the spanking issue should most often affect children between about 4 and 12 and most often boy children. An adult who is mature, calm, rational, and logical can often attain amazingly positive results with a few spankings under proper circumstances, which gives the adult a credible 'threat' that may be successfully used dozens of times before any actual spanking may be needed. However, unless it is used some, the credibility of the threat may disappear, and with that, the positive results will vanish. If an adult will discuss in a calm and logical manner why the child is about to be spanked, allow the child to speak in response, take time for a reasoned discussion, deliver the spanking, allow for a 'recovery' period, and then make a special effort to communicate with the child that he is OK, that he has paid for his transgression, and that now the scales of justice have been balanced, the child will not suffer any negative impact. When the child views the adult being controlled and taking both the situation as serious and the child as an important and significant person, then that removes any real feeling of 'being abused'. Of course, no child particularly likes the brief sharp pain, but essentially 100% of them will understand and incorporate positive images and messages if the adult behaves in a controlled and responsible way.

Sincerely yours,
"A Board Certified Psychiatrist" (remaining anonymous)
benign1@email.com