SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD

The four-papers which follow were originally presented at a research c onference at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, on the use of discipline by primary caregivers. The use of corporal punishment i n child discipline was discussed extensively There was no consistent o pinion among the authors about whether corporal punishment should be t otally discouraged or wheather such discipline had its place in the ar ray of practices used by parents. Data supporting both points of view were presented and it was recommended that classification schemes of d isciplinary practices include, in addition to a typology,some indicati ons of rite harshness of the punishment, the way in which it is admini stered and important contextual aspects. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd .