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Multiculturalism and Social Work | San Francisco State University

Sociocultural differences in the developmental consequences of the use of physical discipline during childhood for African Americans.

Author: Whaley, A. L.
Author Background:
Date 2/2000
Type Journal
Journal Title: Cultural-Diversity-and-Ethnic-Minority-Psychology
Volume/Pages 6(1) 5-12
Publisher
Subject Matter African American, Family, Punishment
Population
Pedagogies
Abstract Given the diverse cultures that can shape parenting behavior, some basic assumptions regarding the links between parenting styles and developmental outcomes may not be universal. Although a positive correlation between the use of physical violence (i.e., spanking) and disruptive disorders in children is found in studies of European American families, research on African American families has found a negative association or none at all. Moreover, a review of the literature indicates that the positive association between spanking and child behavior problems is bidirectional for white families, whereas it is the product of reverse causation (i.e., negative child behaviors result in spanking) in black families. The implications of these sociocultural differences for parent training programs and the family study of disruptive behviors are discussed. (Journal abstract.)
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