1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of the present study is to understand the mediating role of reflexive variables such as: attitudes towards C.P. [(corporal punishment)], reasons for being punished as perceived by the recipient of C.P., reasons for C.P. given by the agent; the style of C.P. in the relationship between a set of objective variables such as: sex of the respondent, country of the respondent, actual age of the subject, religious affiliation of the subject, means of administration of C.P., number of punishing agents, frequency of punishments, age span the subject received C.P. on one side and the intention to use C.P. as a disciplinary method on the other side.» (p. 84)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The study is based on a probabilistic sample of 2142 university students [de l’Université de Montréal] chosen randomly in order to gather information about their own experiences with C.P. as children. The sample consists of 70.2% women and 29.9% men.»

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Considering the negative developmental findings associated with the use of parental corporal punishment, a considerable body of research has attempted to suggest an avenue for interrupting this vicious cycle of intergenerational violence. However, a major limitation in most of these studies has to do with the fact that very few of them has looked at the influence of a third variable such as the use of explanation, perceived fairness and deservedness of punishment, or the attitudes one has towards corporal punishment.» (p. vi) L’étude «has successfully demonstrated that the relationship the relationship [sic] between experiences of past C.P. and the intention to use C.P. as a parent may be mediated by one’s attitude towards C.P. In addition, past experiences with C.P. were shown to influence attitudes towards C.P.» (p. 116) L’auteur mentionne aussi que «[f]rom a larger theoretical point of view, the traumatic bonding theory that explains family violence in terms of the relationship that develops between victim and abuser could provide some useful insights for the understanding of the underlying mechanisms that might account for the fact that the more a person experienced C.P. as a child the more she is likely to endorse it and use it as future parent.» (p. 118)