Child effects as a source of change in maternal attitudes toward corporal punishment

It is commonly believed that parental attitudes toward child rearing are largely determined by the process of intergenerational transmission, Such a view neglects potential influences from the targets of child rearing -- the children. In this study we examined bidirectional influences on mothers' attitudes toward corporal punishment by interviewing 108 mothers of 3-year-old children. Two-thirds of the mothers reported significant shifts in their attitudes since becoming mothers. The major source of that change was their children's reaction to being spanked. These data reveal how child behavior can impact parental attitudes and behavior and call for a more dynamic and multidetermined model of the determinants of child-rearing behavior.