Why do psychologist disapprove punishment

We are concerned about our social image and outcomes. Risk of disapproval from other group members. By deviating too far, individuals risk rejection. Lack of perceived alternatives. A member may not realize he has any other choice but conformity. In Milgram experiments, subjects were told they had no other choice. Fear of disrupting the group's operations.

People fear independence will hamper the attainment of group goals. Absence of communication among group members. Lacking information that others might join in the nonconforming action, they avoid going out on a limb. No feeling of responsibility for group outcomes. Members who conform may cause a group to fail to meet its objectives. They hesitate to take the initiative to turn the situation around, especially if they do not feel personally responsible for the group's success or failure.

A sense of powerlessness. If a person feels that he cannot change the situation, he is unlikely to try anything new. The apathy becomes self-fulfilling. No one tries anything different, and consequently, nothing improves. Any puncturing of unanimity makes it easier to defy the group even if the other defier is an idiot! In fact, even if one other person gives an incorrect response that is different from the error the others are making i.

A fellow dissenter exerts a powerful freeing effect from the influence of the majority. Group size - but the group needn't be that big. Groups of 3 people are about as influential as groups of The more attracted individuals are to the group, the more likely they are to conform to its dictates. Status of the person who is being asked to obey.

There are different theories about the effect of status on conformity. George C. Homans takes the view that both high and low status individuals conform less than those intermediate in status. He reasons that one deviation is unlikely to jeopardize the position of a high status person, and that low status people have little to lose by nonconformity.

But for persons of intermediate status, the situation is different; they lack the standing of the high status person, and unlike the low status person, they have plenty of room for downward mobility. Some research confirms this, but other research does not. Milgram found lower status types obeyed orders more readily. Conversely, higher status people, or those who feel they are more competent at the task in question, are more likely to resist group pressure.

Self esteem. Individuals who have a generally low opinion of themselves are far more likely to yield to group pressure than those with high self-esteem. Norwegians conform more than the French. Japanese students are more willing to take a minority position than American Students. Publicity and surveillance.

The greater the publicity and surveillance associated with the behavior, the greater the conformity. Where behavior is difficult to monitor, the effectiveness of social sanctions is weakened. In public settings, we are likely to experience pressures for compliance although private acceptance may be absent. Prior commitment. Once people have given an answer, they are much more likely to stick with it than when they hear others first.

Those who state own opinions first are much less open to influence. Don't want to appear wishy-washy. Emotional distance of the victim. Milgram found closer they physically were to the victim, less likely they were to obey. Vividly witnessing the suffering of others makes it more difficult to continue inflicting pain on them. In another variation on this theme, the subject did not have to press the shock lever himself but was assigned the subsidiary role of helping another teacher.

It seems that most were quite willing to participate in this situation as long as they were not the ones who inflicted the pain. NOTE: This has real implications in the nuclear age, where you can kill people thousands of miles away. It is easy to be indifferent to the plight of innocent victims. Legitimacy of authority. We have been conditioned to believe that scientists are responsible, benevolent people of high integrity.

A study of nurses found almost universal compliance with drs. Closeness of authority. Demonstrated effect has been very small. However, studies have tended to look at similar people in strong situations. Dissimilar people in weak situations may show more differences. Difficulty and ambiguity. The more difficult the task or the more ambiguous the stimulus, the greater the conformity. Where the task is difficult, we are more likely to look to others as sources of information regarding appropriate courses of action.

Allocation of resources. Equitable sharing of resources heightens people's tendency to comply and requires less surveillance to produce compliance. When we commit a wrong, we feel guilty. We seek to atone by complying with another person's wishes. Guilty people seek out ways to lessen their guilt by voluntarily engaging in a good deed. However, a desire for restitution does not seem to be the reason why.

Raising Parents It's Complicated Pets. A question all parents grapple with. Honest Parenting. Children often internalise the disapproval, anger and punishment, thus establishing a poor sense of self.

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By Barney Greenspan, PhD. Find a Psychologist for family therapy. Punishing a child by hurting their body may take many different forms and may be done for different reasons. It may be a slap, a spanking or beating by hand, a kicking, shaking or throwing down of a child, a whipping or flogging with strap, belt, hairbrush or other implement. It may be applied at random for different offenses or carefully graduated to specific wrongdoings.

What good and what harm can come from physical discipline? The basic concepts of control and mastery include:. Our personalities use many means for dealing with the world around us in an attempt to become our own masters. The child gradually acquires these means of control and mastery. Facilitation helps develop the tools to master the activities and skills toward mature, ethical and responsible functioning as an adult member of the community.

Inner values, morals and means of self-discipline are best developed through identification with the parents and their non-punitive means of education. Articles related to this topic.

By Sandra Wartski, PsyD. Search for a Psychologist Search our database of licensed psychologists verified by the National Register to meet higher care standards. Or Try a Guided Search Go through a step-by-step search experience to access our database and explore your options.