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Changing Beliefs About Corporal Punishment: Increasing Knowledge About Ineffectiveness to Build More Consistent Moral and Informational Beliefs

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Abstract

Although the effectiveness of corporal punishment (CP) has received little empirical support, public support for this disciplinary method continues despite calls for its abandonment by researchers. Even among educators, favorable attitudes toward the use of CP are prevalent. We measured education majors’ beliefs about CP before and after they read about CP research on its effectiveness and side effects. Students who changed their behavioral intent regarding whether they would use CP as a parent increased their knowledge about its ineffectiveness, resulting in greater consistency between their moral and informational beliefs (Wainryb, 1998). Persons who are likely to change from defending to opposing CP regard it as being similar to bad-tasting medicine—not very pleasant but nonetheless necessary. Recommendations concerning implementation and changing other beliefs are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas at Austin, Texas, Austin

    Daniel H. Robinson, Alicia Beth & Angela M. Bush

  2. Griffith University, Australia

    Daniel H. Robinson & Daniel C. Funk (Associate Professor)

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  1. Daniel H. Robinson
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  2. Daniel C. Funk
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Robinson, D.H., Funk, D.C., Beth, A. et al. Changing Beliefs About Corporal Punishment: Increasing Knowledge About Ineffectiveness to Build More Consistent Moral and Informational Beliefs. J Behav Educ 14, 117–139 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-005-2706-9

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