Age Differences in Boys' Evaluations of Fathers Intervening to Stop Misbehavior

Girls' and boys' perception of mothers' intentions of using physical punishment and reasoning as discipline methods

“…This is similar to some other studies showing that older children rate reasoning more positively and physical punishment more negatively than younger children (Barnet et al, 1996;Painkoff et al, 1988;Siegal & Cowen, 1984). However, other previous studies (DeaterDeckard et al, 2005;Eimer, 1983) have shown that older children in general are more positive towards their parents' discipline methods, perhaps as a result of their capacity to better understand their parents' intentions. This corresponds with the result showing that older children rated mothers as being better parents than did younger children, both when using reasoning and physical punishment.…”

“…In both vignettes, children rated mothers' intention to help, to show their love, and to prevent future misbehaviour as being more prevalent for reasoning than for physical punishment. This is in line with previous studies indicating that, overall, children evaluate reasoning as a better and more preferred discipline method (Barnett et al, 1996;Carlson, 1986;Deater-Deckard & Dodge, 1996;Deater-Deckard et al, 1997;Eimer, 1983;Siegal & Barclay, 1985;Siegal & Cowen, 1984). Children also evaluated the mother as a being a better parent when using reasoning rather than physical punishment.…”

“…Overall, older children are more positive towards their parents' discipline methods than younger children are (Deater-Deckard, Dodge, & Sorbring, 2005;Eimer, 1983). Eimer (1983) explains this as being due to the fact that older children are quite capable of understanding their parents' intentions, whereas younger children focus on the element of unpleasantness associated with particular parenting situations.…”

“…Overall, older children are more positive towards their parents' discipline methods than younger children are (Deater-Deckard, Dodge, & Sorbring, 2005;Eimer, 1983). Eimer (1983) explains this as being due to the fact that older children are quite capable of understanding their parents' intentions, whereas younger children focus on the element of unpleasantness associated with particular parenting situations. However, these results conflict partly with the results of Barnett et al (1996), Painkoff, Collins, and Laursen (1988), and Siegal and Cowen (1984), who have shown that older children rate physical punishment more negatively and induction more positively than do younger children.…”

“…A handful of studies examining British, American and Australian children's attitudes have found that children generally have positive attitudes towards both physical punishment and reasoning, although they are more accepting of the latter (Barnett, Quakenbush, & Sinisi, 1996;Carlson, 1986;Deater-Deckard & Dodge, 1996;Deater-Deckard, Fraser, & Oyelese, 1997;Eimer, 1983;Siegal & Barclay, 1985;Siegal & Cowen, 1984). In contrast, only 2% of Swedish children between 10 -12 years found it acceptable for parents to use physical punishment (Socialdepartementet, 2000).…”