Abstract
One component of a well-researched, standardized parent training program is to spank children for escape from time-out. The contribution of the spanking component to compliance acquisition in a clinic analog setting was evaluated. Time-out duration and child disruption at time-out release were balanced across spank and no-spank (“barrier”) conditions. Sixteen noncompliant, clinic-referred preschool children participated. The data indicated that both spank and barrier procedures were equally effective at increasing compliance ratios. Physical punishment did not appear to be a critical component. Given prior research, it was concluded that the enforcement of a minimum time-out duration is critical for compliance acquisition within the analog setting.
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The authors wish to express their appreciation to Bryan Hutchinson, Lynn McIssac, Larry Murillo, and Mary Parpal for their assistance in conducting this study.
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Day, D.E., Roberts, M.W. An analysis of the physical punishment component of a parent training program. J Abnorm Child Psychol 11, 141–152 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00912184
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00912184