spanking or not?

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Kids are just small people, they make decisions for the same reasons we do.

I'm not so sure I agree with that part rk - Kids don't have the intelligence, wisdom nor experience that adults have when it comes to decisionmaking - not that spanking will help, but I do not think children can think of all the ramifications or consequences associated with their actions.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by yesman065

I'm not so sure I agree with that part rk - Kids don't have the intelligence, wisdom nor experience that adults have when it comes to decisionmaking - not that spanking will help, but I do not think children can think of all the ramifications or consequences associated with their actions.

What age are you talking about?

When a kid is under 10 then the decisions are usually much different but I think rkzenrage was talking about middle and high schoolers, which, scientifically supported, have the same thought process of adults. It is just that adults have much more experienced and know when to hold back and when not too.


The theory of cognitive development states that once a child reaches the age of 11-15, they will reach the highest possible cognitive stage, formal operation stage, and will remain in that stage throughout adulthood.

Once a person reaches the formal operation stage they technically have reached their full potential in reasoning, and then they will just gain experience and become wiser with choices. There are other variables like moral development and that but this is more or less the base for social and non-social reasoning in humans.

Theory of Cognitive Development:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_development
http://evolution.massey.ac.nz/assign2/MH/webpage.htm

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

What age are you talking about?

I wasn't sure what aged children rk was talking about. Since the term kid can refer to a broad range, I was stating my opinion mostly on younger children 2 - 10-ish.

Originally Posted by yesman065

I'm not so sure I agree with that part rk - Kids don't have the intelligence, wisdom nor experience that adults have when it comes to decisionmaking - not that spanking will help, but I do not think children can think of all the ramifications or consequences associated with their actions.

Depends on the kid.
I don't many adults that made decisions well.
Per an earlier statement, authority figures should not be friends.

When a kid is under 10 then the decisions are usually much different but I think rkzenrage was talking about middle and high schoolers, which, scientifically supported, have the same thought process of adults. It is just that adults have much more experienced and know when to hold back and when not too.

Yes, and some adults.

and it is just a theory...

Do you understand what theory means in science?
Not the same as lay language, it means it has been shown to be true under multiple circumstances and by more than one scientist (peer review).
Gravity is "just a theory".

I wasn't sure what aged children rk was talking about. Since the term kid can refer to a broad range, I was stating my opinion mostly on younger children 2 - 10-ish.

I can tell you from multiple experiences, not just my son, a two-year-old will treat you exactly like you treat them and does not give a shit what you say to them. The same is true for all kids, the younger the kid, the more true this is.
Fact.

[yesman065]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Depends on the kid.
I can tell you from multiple experiences, not just my son, a two-year-old will treat you exactly like you treat them and does not give a shit what you say to them. The same is true for all kids, the younger the kid, the more true this is.
Fact.

Although I agree to most of your post in theory, I have to say that I disagree with this part.
After/while still parenting 3 teenagers, if there is one absolute, it is that NOTHING is true for ALL kids. Not even close to a fact. I have to treat all my children differently, they are all individuals with different life experiences. They are NOT ALL the same - not even close. While coaching 100's of children from 7 to 15 I find that they respond differently as well. Thats the beauty of it all - we are all different.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Theories in psychology are there to explain why we act like we do, it doesn't change the premises of the area they are testing it on. There is usually no contradiction between experience or traditions and the explanation. Because of that, it is more of a take it or leave it scenario but these things are very helpful because to do give an idea on how the conciousness works.

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

"Theory" in general science is different from "theory" in psychology. There are many contradictory theories in psychology; not in empirical sciences like biology or physics.

I agree. People shop around for a psychologist that subscribes to a school (theory)they are comfortable with. They probably don't know the therapist's theory but test the comfort level. Not saying it doesn't help them just not all psychologists would.

I subscribe to the Dr Phil school... he comes on, the TV goes off.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I agree. People shop around for a psychologist that subscribes to a school (theory)they are comfortable with. They probably don't know the therapist's theory but test the comfort level. Not saying it doesn't help them just not all psychologists would.

Of course, with our current knowledge of our brain, cognitive development would be put in a category more closely to philosophy than actual science. Until we can unlock the inner working of our brains, which may be never, we will never find out the truth about our brain but can only rely on observations and manipulative testing. Both can lead to results being very accurate or misleading and it is almost impossible to distinguish the two due to unknown variables.

Then with cognitive development, there is also the fact that everyone is different and we do not know exactly what is genetically or environmentally manipulative.