| The present study examined two outcome measures: (1) the labeling of specific physical discipline methods as abusive or non-abusive; and, (2) perceptions of the appropriate social response with which to handle someone who physically abuses a child.;Research has shown that one of the strongest associations with perceptions of physical discipline is a history of physical abuse in childhood. Literature supporting the intergenerational transmission of child physical abuse has demonstrated that physically abused children exhibit increased tolerance for corporal punishment in adulthood. Other studies have revealed that abusive histories are associated with a decreased tendency to permit physical discipline on children. Recent efforts have focused on the impact of severity and self-labeling of one's abusive history as mediating factors on attitudes regarding disciplinary acts.;A dearth of peer-reviewed literature exists on perceptions about how society should respond to physical child abusers. National-level survey data support a tough approach for criminal sanctioning of child abusers. At the same time, evidence shows a feeling by the public that abusive parents need treatment. This disparity indirectly suggests that perceptions about appropriate social response to child abusers are based upon social distance (i.e., the abuser's relationship to the child).;The data utilized for this study consisted of self-reported experiences of 1,739 respondents, obtained through self-administered survey instrumentation. Perceptions of childhood physical abuse were measured by multiple questions asking respondents to assess the frequency, duration, intensity, and co-occurrence of their abuse experiences. Respondents were also asked to classify individual physical discipline behaviors as abusive or non-abusive. Assessment of appropriate handling of physical child abusers consisted of respondents' choice (handled as a personal matter, handled in civil court/matter of public welfare, ordered to receive treatment, prosecuted in criminal court), based upon social distance (parent/step-parent, other relative, acquaintance, stranger).;Findings demonstrated that those with physically abusive child histories exhibited a greater tendency to classify physical punishment methods abusive. Also, perceptions differed by specific method. For example, non-white, older, lower income respondents, with abuse histories, who experienced abuse more often, longer, in conjunction with other types of abuse, and with greater seriousness, more often classified spanking with wooden paddle as abuse.;Overall, abused respondents favored consequences for child abusers that were more lenient than did non-abused respondents. When the abuser was a parent, abused respondents more often preferred treatment than non-victims.;Key words. Corporal punishment, Child physical abuse, Punishment attitudes, Attitudes toward perpetrators of child physical abuse. |
