ABSTRACT Decades of research have demonstrated unequivocally that physical punishment is harmful to children and leads to later negative outcomes. Yet over 80% of parents in the United States continue to spank, and 30% of psychologists support spanking. This paper examines why there is such a disparity between knowledge and the behavior of legalized violence against children. The authors suggest that violence against children serves multiple unconscious functions that feel necessary to the psychological survival of the perpetrator. It is a manifestation of a powerful defensive motivation to maintain a sadomasochistic, “closed system” response to helplessness experienced by adults. The authors describe some interventions that carry the hope of change.

中文翻译：

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他们为什么不学习：体罚的无意识基础

摘要数十年的研究明确表明，体罚对儿童有害，并导致以后的不良后果。但是，在美国，仍有80％以上的父母继续打屁股，而30％的心理学家仍然支持打屁股。本文探讨了为什么知识与合法的针对儿童的暴力行为之间存在这种差异。作者认为，针对儿童的暴力行为具有多种潜意识功能，这对于犯罪者的心理生存来说是必不可少的。这是保持对成年人的无助感的施虐受虐，“封闭系统”反应的强大防御动力的体现。作者描述了一些带有改变希望的干预措施。