About this episode

Breanna Jayne Sada discusses the implications of physical punishment on child learning and development.

In this episode of Let’s Reconnect, registered psychologist Breanna Jayne Sada explores the psychology of physical punishment, smacking and discipline, and asks an important question: what lesson is your child actually learning when they are hit? While physical punishment may stop a behaviour in the moment, compliance is not the same as learning. Breanna explains what happens in a child’s brain when their fight, flight, freeze or fawn response is activated, why a frightened brain struggles to learn, and how fear can impact honesty, emotional regulation and the parent-child relationship. This episode also explores attachment theory and the difference between secure, anxious, avoidant and disorganised attachment. Breanna discusses why children need their parents to be a source of safety and security, and how repeated, unpredictable physical punishment can create confusing messages about love, fear and relationships. Drawing on decades of research into corporal punishment and child development, Breanna discusses the evidence linking physical punishment with increased aggression, poorer mental health, antisocial behaviour and poorer parent-child relationships, as well as why research…

People in this episode

Host: Breanna Jayne Sada

Topics covered

• physical punishment
• child development
• attachment theory
• parent-child relationship
• emotional regulation
• discipline strategies

Keywords

• smacking
• discipline
• psychology
• fear
• aggression
• mental health
• attachment styles

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