Spanking The Gray Matter Out Of Our Kids (Yes, Don't Spank, Please)

[RufusTFirefly]

67. Maybe so, but it mischaracterizes much of the research's conclusions

I'd say that's a fairly big deal.

Here's what the CNN article says defines harsh corporal punishment

Harsh corporal punishment in the study was defined as at least one spanking a month for more than three years, frequently done with objects such as a belt or paddle.

And here's what the research actually says

We defined harsh CP (HCP) as a severe form of CP, in which an object (e.g., belt, paddle, hair brush) was used on occasion for the purpose of disciplining a child, provided it did not extend beyond the buttocks, was not conducted out of anger, and did not result in injury. We focused on HCP rather than ordinary CP, which is much more common, hypothesizing that HCP would be associated with a stronger signal and more discernible effects. If associations emerged between imaging findings and HCP it would justify studies in a larger group of subjects exposed to ordinary CP.

See the difference?

It doesn't matter that I am personally opposed to all sorts of corporal punishment, harsh or otherwise. I just have issues with the way that the popular media routinely sensationalize and mischaracterize scientific studies. Talk to almost any cognitive scientist about about how the media and bestsellers completely warped the public's perception of the implications of brain laterality, for example, and you will get an earful, I assure you.