A mother's love protects the child against the trauma of harsh discipline
The use of harsh discipline of unwanted behaviour in children has long been controversial. Whether verbal (insults, disparaging remarks, threats) or physical (slapping/spanking), harsh discipline at all stages of childhood carries a large risk of manifesting antisocial ‘externalising behaviours’ in the child, including aggression, delinquency or hyperactivity.But a new study published in the journal Parenting: Science and Practice suggests that these painful effects of harsh discipline can be moderated by the child’s feelings of being loved by their mother. The study, conducted among a