African American Families and the Role of Physical Discipline: Witnessing the Past in the Present

Thomas, Krista A.; Dettlaff, Alan J.

doi:10.1080/10911359.2011.588537

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Study fathers’ use of physical discipline was also consistent with previous literature that documents a greater use and acceptance of spanking among low-income and African American parents (primarily mothers), compared to others (McLoyd & Smith, 2002; Thomas & Detlaff, 2011; Horn, Joseph, & Chen 2004). The descriptions of African American fathers’ use for and limits of spanking appear to be consistent with the description of spanking practices provided by Denby and Alford (1996).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Unheard voices: African American fathers speak about their parenting practices.

Doyle

Clark

Cryer‐Coupet

et al. 2015

Psychology of Men & Masculinity

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Researchers have called for qualitative investigations into African American fathers’ parenting practices that consider their social context and identify specific practices. Such investigations can inform the way we conceptualize African American fathers’ parenting practices, which can in turn contribute to prevention interventions with at-risk youth. We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews about parenting with 30 self-identified, African American, biological fathers of pre-adolescent sons at-risk for developing aggressive behaviors, depressive symptoms, or both. Fathers provided descriptions of their parenting practices, which were at times influenced by their environmental context, fathers’ residential status, and masculine ideologies. Our systematic analysis revealed four related themes that emerged from the data: managing emotions, encouragement, discipline, and monitoring. Of particular note, fathers in the current sample emphasized the importance of teaching their sons to manage difficult emotions, largely utilized language consistent with male ideologies (i.e., encouragement rather than love or nurturance), and engaged in high levels of monitoring and discipline in response to perceived environmental challenges and the developmental needs of their sons. The findings provide deeper insight into the parenting practices of African American fathers who are largely understudied, and often misunderstood. Further, these findings highlight considerations that may have important implications for father-focused prevention interventions that support African American fathers, youth, and families.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Unheard voices: African American fathers speak about their parenting practices.

Doyle

Clark

Cryer‐Coupet

et al. 2015

Psychology of Men & Masculinity

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“…Research also points to the perceptions of abusive treatment of children is often calibrated by the normative views within a particular context. Thomas and Dettlaff (2011) argue that African American s' use of stricter, physical discipline will prepare their children for the harsh realities of living in a society with racial discrimination and bias. African American mothers in Taylor, et al's (2011) study stressed opting to use corporal punishment when potential danger or risk was high for their child.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Potential Effect of Race and Culture on Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Corporal Punishment and Its Subsequent Effect on Mandated Reporting

Kesner¹,

Stenhouse²

2018

AJTE

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In the United States, not only are parents permitted to utilize corporal punishment in disciplining their children, but 19 states still permit the use of corporal punishment in schools. Teachers are legally bound to report suspected maltreatment, yet their school may engage in a discipline practice which they may consider abuse. This potential conflict depends on the teacher's definition of "acceptable" physical discipline and abuse. Thus, teachers' attitudes teachers towards corporal punishment and child maltreatment are critical. Preservice teachers were surveyed about their attitudes towards corporal punishment, knowledge of child maltreatment and mandated reporting, personal experiences with corporal punishment and asked to rate several hypothetical parent-child discipline scenarios. Preliminary analyses indicate that despite a higher endorsement of and more personal experience with corporal punishment, African American participants did not differ from their Anglo counterparts in their ratings of parental discipline scenarios. These and other findings will be discussed.

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“…Although behavioral problems (as a result of mothers using physical discipline) observed in White American children have not been found in African American children, African American child rearing methods continue to be characterized as change worthy (Adkison‐Bradley, ; Belgrave & Allison, ; Kriz & Skivenes, ). Many African American caseworkers report that White human service workers lack exposure to African American child rearing practices (Dixon, ; Thomas & Dettlaff, ). Additionally, cultural bias and/or lack of cultural awareness among trial lawyers and juvenile and family court judges often play a role in the marginalization of African American parents (Barrett & George, ; Dixon, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some scholars have cautioned that social workers and legal professionals may make inappropriate decisions, such as removing African American children from their homes, as a consequence of their lack of understanding the meaning and context of African American child discipline (Adkison‐Bradley, ; Ispa & Halgunseth, ; Roberts, ). Although African American children comprise 15% of the children in the Unites States, they make up 37% of children in the child welfare system (Dixon, ; Thomas & Dettlaff, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the last 20 years, an emerging literature has reported that African American parents use a wide variety of child disciplinary techniques (e.g., Bradley, ; Brodsky & DeVet, ; Denby & Alford, ; Greene & Garner, ; Lansford, Wager, Bates, Dodge, & Pettit, ; Thomas & Dettlaff, ) that are often predicated by the age of the child and the context of a particular disciplinary episode (e.g., Adkison‐Bradley, Terpstra, & Dormitorio, ; Bradley, ). For instance, Bradley () studied the disciplinary styles of African American working class mothers and fathers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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African American Child Discipline: Differences Between Mothers and Fathers

Adkison-Johnson¹,

Terpstra²,

Burgos³

et al. 2016

Family Court Review

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Child rearing methods used in African American homes have been the subject of much commentary among social scientists, child welfare, and legal personnel. Much of the deliberation has centered on firm disciplinary techniques used by African American mothers. However, few studies have included the perspectives of African American fathers. This study investigated the differences between African American mothers' and fathers' responses in relation to child misbehavior. Several significant differences were found with mothers utilizing more intense disciplinary methods than African American fathers. Results of this investigation underscored the importance of obtaining the viewpoints of African American fathers as well as mothers in understanding parenting in African American homes.Key Points for the Family Court Community:African American mothers and fathers use a variety of disciplinary methods to address misbehavior in their children.When social scientists are preoccupied with African Americans spanking or "whuppin" their children, it becomes easier for researchers to deny African American parents their intentional (e.g., explained behavioral expectations to child) and strategic (e.g., hierarchical in nature in that second disciplinary response to misbehavior is more severe than the first) child-rearing qualities that are associated with being a competent parent. Helping professionals are reluctant to broach the discussion of child discipline with African American parents. There is a significant gender effect in the intensity of disciplinary practices among African American parents in that mothers tend to use more severe disciplinary practices than fathers. Disciplinary Best Practice Questions can be a way of uniformly assessing disciplinary tactics and making a decision about when discipline crosses the line to abuse. They could focus investigators, therapists, and judges away from inherent biases and on to the facts of a case.

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African American Families and the Role of Physical Discipline: Witnessing the Past in the Present

Cited by 25 publications

References 31 publications

Unheard voices: African American fathers speak about their parenting practices.

Unheard voices: African American fathers speak about their parenting practices.

Investigating the Potential Effect of Race and Culture on Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of Corporal Punishment and Its Subsequent Effect on Mandated Reporting

African American Child Discipline: Differences Between Mothers and Fathers

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