Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families

Customer Reviews:

Indispensable Book on Corporal Punishment.......2005-12-03

This revised edition by Murray Straus is an exceptional addition to the discussion of whether or not to spank. Chapter by chapter, he addresses every rationalization commonly given for spanking, and presents research which debunks each one. For instance, parents might say that they spank in order to prevent their children from becoming antisocial in adulthood. Straus shows that, controlling for other variables, the use of corporal punishment actually increases the likelihood that the child will be violent as an adult, spend time in jail, drop out of school, and experience depression.

One hundred fifty years ago, it was legal for masters to hit lazy apprentices, for teachers to hit unruly students, and for husbands to hit disobedient wives. These behaviors were even approved by the general society. Now, these behaviors are illegal in every state. However, corporal punishment is still legal in every state--which means that the behavior which would get me arrested if I performed it with my co-worker, my neighbor, my wife, or the neighbor's children--is perfectly legal when I do it to my children. It is even regarded as responsible parenting. Straus's book is a tour de force, which should represent a bugle call to every responsible parent who wishes to reduce the level of violence in our families and in our society.

This is an extraordinary book--one which should be studied by any parent who is considering using corporal punishment in parenting

THE Definitive Review of Current Research on Spanking.......2001-04-17

Dr. Murray Straus has updated his 1994 _tour de force_ with new studies and data in a highly readable format for the general public. Professor Straus, of the University of New Hampshire, is one of the world's foremost researchers in the field of family violence, and it was his research on wife-beating in the 60's and 70's which led him to recognize the connectedness of all subtypes of family violence, including the "virtuous violence" against children euphemistically known as "spanking."

Spanking appears to "work" in the short run because the child stops doing whatever provoked the parent's displeasure. But the research Straus summarizes in this important new book clearly shows that in the longer run, spanking has no measurable beneficial effects at all, and is associated with a variety of long term negative effects. The more children are spanked, the more they assault siblings and other children. The more children are spanked, the more their rates of age adjusted antisocial behavior increase over time. Spanking in childhood is associated with higher levels of alcoholism, depression, masochistic fantasy, and suicidal ideation later in life.

As more family violence data accumulates, more evidence accumulates in support of Straus's view of normative forms of violence "spilling over" into criminal forms. Parents who spank their children are significantly more likely to also physically abuse them than parents who don't. Parents who spank their children are more likely to physically abuse each other. And physically abused children are even more likely to grow up to commit crimes against nonfamily members than spanked children, who are in turn more likely to do so than nonspanked children.

The mounting tide of research on spanking resembles the growth of research on the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. In both cases, no single study settled the issue. Every study had its weaknesses and its strengths. But when all of the available studies are viewed as a whole, a grim picture emerges: of a widespread, culturally ingrained habit which causes grave harm, bit by bit, by subtle increments.

The parallels between smoking and spanking extend beyond the similarity of research study designs. Both are addictive practices justified by their practicioners in similar ways. "I've smoked for fifty years and I feel great!" "I was spanked and it never did ME any harm!" Bit by bit, the mounting evidence linking smoking with cancer eroded much of the cultural denial. Straus's book is at once a recognition of a similar trend towards popular identification of spanking as a harmful, injurious act, and an influence furthering that trend.

Every new parent who is planning to spank their child simply because that is how they were raised should read this book and reconsider this thoughtless choice. The data which is emerging today in the social sciences will take years more to penetrate fully into the public consciousness, just as the awareness of the dangers of smoking did. By the time it does, today's spanking-aged children will be teenagers or young adults, coming of age in a world which will view physical punishment of children no more favorably than of forcing children to smoke cigarettes. They will retroactively judge today's parents in light of the cultural norms in which they themselves come of age, rather than the cultural norms of their early twenty-first century childhoods. They will want to know why their parents didn't pay attention to information, of the type summarized in this book, linking spanking with a variety of negative side effects and no long term benefits to children. Their parents will not be able to argue that they didn't know, because the information is already publically available now. They will only be able to say they are sorry, but the damage will have already been done.

Just because *you* don't resent your parents for spanking you doesn't mean your *children* won't. Today's small children will take their place as adults in a non-spanking world. Read this book now, and learn the facts about spanking rather than the myths. In the long run, it will be easier to do so than to explain to one's children, twenty years hence, why one didn't.

Christopher Dugan, M.A. ....

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Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families
Murray A. Straus
Manufacturer: Lexington Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8V1U6

Book Description

Activation to embarkation for combat duty in Europe took the Blue Devils only sixteen months, a record in 1943 that was virtually unmatched in World War II.

Customer Reviews:

Draftee Division, Why so good?.......2001-03-26

Why so good? First of all, the author points out that leadership was a prime factor in the success of the 88th Infantry division. The first men came primarily from the New England area and after a very successful participation in Louisiana Manuevers the ranks were filled with Texans mostly the Tex/Mex. The men from the Northeast were as a rule well educated, many with college degrees, While the Texans at that time had not had the same educational opportunities. As Brown points out the comination of the jelled and when the 88th went into action it was recognized immediately as as the leading division in the breakthrough of the Gustav Line and the leaders of the First 5th Army troops to enter Rome. Brown continually points out the leadership of the Jr. Officers and the fighting ability of the Texans. The outfit went overseas as the Cloverleaf division which was changed quickly by Axis Sally to "BLUE DEVILS" a name that has never been relinquished. The 88th continued its march all the way to the Brenner pass where it joined up with the 7th Army, HERO an Historical Organization of evaluations of Infantry Divisions rated it fifth amongst the Infantry Divisions in the EAME Theater only ranking behind 4 German Divisions and well above any other American Division. Again Brown continues emphasizing leader ship. The book has many technical aspects and is not always easy reading but at the same time he brings the officers and men into an unbeatable team

Interesting look at a Draftee division.......2000-06-13

While most US division where pre-war regular Army, or National Guard formations the 88th was formed from manpower pool the draft produced. The author has a personal connection to the division (his father commanded it), and tells its story with a great level of detail. While the story is not as colorful as some of the Guard formations (books on the 29th, 45th and 30th have more of a regional flavor) it still covered some new ground about these unique formations. If the reader is familiar with the Army's WWII manpower and unit/personnel formation policies, some parts of the begining of the book can be skipped.

unfortunately, one of the only books we have.S.......2000-01-11

My grandad was Sgt. "bay" Garrison. He won 2 bronze stars & told me unbelievable horror stories about his time in Italy. He was with 88th,351st co.G for the entire campaign & lost 3 of his best "buddies". The history of the 88th that he related to us was different from what this author claims is history. The language in this book is that of an academic & is totally unlike the language used by the men who fought & died in Italy. The author turned one of the most horrible & incredible campaigns of WW2 into a dry, technical list of facts. Some of the most ridiculous inclusions: 2 mathematically equations design to prove that the 88th wasn't inferior to the Germans, several pictures of generals, extensive discussion & misleadingly detailed charts about about equipment(Granddad said he would grab weapons from dead GIs & sometimes German & what good are all the trucks if they are bogged down in mud & mules were, literally, a life saver). Rather than focusing on the men who died & what history they were experiencing, the author mistakenly focused on the generals & then he had the audacity/stupidity to declare how he took every measure to be accurate...well, he was far from accurate & seems to have totally missed the history of the 88th, for it was not with the men who sat well behind lines in warm beds/food. The history of the 88th occured in the foxholes where the men fought under unbelievable circumstance. All of this is lost on the author of this book. My granddad said many times how 15 minutes of combat is more than enough(he logged over 180 days on the front lines). This author needs that 15 minutes. His view of the 88th would do an about face. Worse, his facts aren't correct. p51"rationing never proved a serious problem...." Grandad said many times how he would go without food/water for days while on patrol or mission. The author seems to be in denial about the men whose lives ended & whose families were destroyed since he doesn't document any of that history. My advice to the author: read Stephen Ambrose, study his philosophy/literary style, & imitate it & maybe then you can claim to have produced an accurate history

Draftee Division: The 88th Infantry Division in World War II

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Draftee Division: The 88th Infantry Division in World War II
John Sloan Brown
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P2664M

Book Description

This comprehensive yet streamlined narrative history of the Western world brings the stories of ordinary people as well as famous leaders and events to life. This book offers exceptionally broad social and geographical coverage highlighting the global setting of Western history and emphasizing the effects of the West's repeated encounters with the non-Western world.

The Western World : A Narrative History : Prehistory to the Present

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The Western World : A Narrative History : Prehistory to the Present
Anthony Esler
Manufacturer: Allyn & Bacon, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JWPLHG

Western World, The: A Narrative History, Prehistory to Present

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Western World, The: A Narrative History, Prehistory to Present
Anthony Esler
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIK0EE

The Western World: Prehistory to the Present (HISTORY)

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The Western World: Prehistory to the Present (HISTORY)
Anthony Esler
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ4BK2

Book Description

First published over ten years ago, this fully revised and updated edition now includes several plant species previously unrecorded for Barbados. This book aims to enable the reader to identify the flowering plants found in the wild in Barbadosplants many people would regard as just bush. Over five hundred entries are included, all with colour photographs and clear, precise, and easy-to-follow descriptions for accurate identification.

Neophobia by the Lesser-Antillean Bullfinch, a Foraging Generalist, and the Bananaquit, a Nectar Specialist.: An article from: Wilson Bulletin

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Neophobia by the Lesser-Antillean Bullfinch, a Foraging Generalist, and the Bananaquit, a Nectar Specialist.: An article from: Wilson Bulletin
Sandra J. Webster , and Louis Lefebvre
Manufacturer: Wilson Ornithological Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wilson Bulletin, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on September 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1757 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Neophobia by the Lesser-Antillean Bullfinch, a Foraging Generalist, and the Bananaquit, a Nectar Specialist.
Author: Sandra J. Webster
Publication: Wilson Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2000
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 112 Issue: 3 Page: 424

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Barbados-Antigua expedition;: Narrative and preliminary report of a zoological expedition from the University of Iowa to the Lesser Antilles under the ... of Iowa studies in natural history)

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Barbados-Antigua expedition;: Narrative and preliminary report of a zoological expedition from the University of Iowa to the Lesser Antilles under the ... of Iowa studies in natural history)
Charles Cleveland Nutting
Manufacturer: The University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00086ZEC0

The History of Barbardos comprising a geographical and statistical description of the island ... natural productions

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The History of Barbardos comprising a geographical and statistical description of the island ... natural productions
Robert H Schomburgk
Manufacturer: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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