Final answer:
Research suggests that mild spanking is not effective and can lead to aggression in children. Physical punishment may teach fear and increase aggressive behavior. It is important to consider alternative disciplinary strategies based on reinforcement rather than punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research by Gershoff and Grogan-Kaylor suggests that mild spanking is not an effective form of punishment and may lead to aggression by the victim, particularly in those who are spanked at a young age (Berlin 2009).
Studies have shown that physical punishment, such as spanking, may teach fear and cause children to become more aggressive and prone to antisocial behavior and delinquency (Gershoff, 2002).
It is important to be aware of the drawbacks in using physical punishment on children, and to consider alternative disciplinary strategies that focus on reinforcement over punishment (Gershoff et al., 2010).