Abstract
This study examined the influence(s) of the type of physical discipline administered and the type of child misbehavior on college student’s evaluations of parent–child disciplinary situations. Participants evaluated vignettes describing a child’s behavioral transgression and the subsequent parental disciplinary response. Evaluations were assessed in terms of the abusiveness, effectiveness, and appropriateness of the discipline. As predicted, evaluations varied as a function of both the type of physical discipline and the type of behavioral transgression. For example, parent–child interactions were evaluated as being more abusive when the severity of the discipline exceeded the severity of the transgression. Gender differences emerged with women evaluating mild discipline as being just as appropriate as moderate discipline while men evaluated mild discipline as being less appropriate than moderate discipline. Further, men evaluated moderate and severe discipline as being more effective than mild discipline. Results are discussed in terms of how the current research extends previous work in this area. Implications and areas for future research also are discussed.
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Appendices
Appendix A
Vignettes
Mild Transgression/Mild Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy accidentally run into another child, knocking him to the ground. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother take him gently by the arm and pull him over to sit next to her on the bench.
Moderate Transgression/Mild Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy push another child to the ground and take the ball from him. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother take him gently by the arm and pull him over to sit next to her on the bench.
Severe Transgression/Mild Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy attack another child, punching the other child and giving him a black eye and taking the ball from him. Then you see the other young boy’s mother take him gently by the arm and pull him over to sit next to her on the bench.
Mild Transgression/Moderate Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy accidentally run into another child, knocking the other child to the ground. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother spank him on the buttocks with her hand.
Moderate Transgression/Moderate Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy push another child to the ground and take the ball from him. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother spank him on the buttocks with her hand.
Severe Transgression/Moderate Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy attack another child, punching the other child and giving him a black eye and taking the ball from him. Then you see the other young boy’s mother spank him on the buttocks with her hand.
Mild Transgression/Severe Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy accidentally run into another child, knocking the other child to the ground. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother slap him across the face with the back of her hand.
Moderate Transgression/Severe Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy push another child to the ground and take the ball from him. The child who was knocked to the ground gets up and is apparently unharmed. Then you see the other young boy’s mother slap him across the face with the back of her hand.
Severe Transgression/Severe Discipline
As you are walking through the park one day, you see a group of children playing ball. You see one young boy attack another child, punching the other child and giving him a black eye and taking the ball from him. Then you see the other young boy’s mother slap him across the face with the back of her hand.
Appendix B
Questionnaires
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Smith, B., Ray, G.E., Stefurak, T. et al. College Student Evaluations of Parent–Child Disciplinary Situations. J Fam Viol 22, 757–767 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9123-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9123-x