Ethnographic research

As part of a large scale ethnographic study reported in 1991, 349 children aged 9-16 years were given questionnaires and information sheets concerning physical punishment and children and caretakers were interviewed. 61% of children (69% of caretakers) agreed with the statement "Beatings are a good and normal part of raising children"; 73% of children (86% of caretakers) agreed with "It is for children's own good that parents beat them"; 67% of children (80% of caretakers) agreed "I know my mother loves me because she beats me"; 93% of caretakers believed that parents should beat their children for misbehaviour and 94% agreed with the statement "He who spares the rod spoils the child". The frequency and severity of physical punishment (including slapping, spanking, cuffing, thumping, burning, shoving and beating with an implement) were also researched. Children reported being punished on average over four times in a two week period, though some reported being punished several times daily. Younger children and boys were punished more often and more severely than older children and girls. Higher socio-economic status caretakers punished children less frequently and less severely than lower status caretakers

(Rohner, R. P., Kean, K. J. & Cournoyer, D. E. (1991), "Effects of corporal punishment, perceived caretaker warmth, and cultural beliefs on the psychological adjustment of children in St Kitts, West Indies", Journal of Marriage and the Family, vol.53, pp.681-693)

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