Social and Psychoanalytic Perspectives on the Use of Physical Punishment among Low-Income African-Americans

ABSTRACT

Physical punishment is commonly used in low-income Africana families. It is perceived as an effective means of exerting immediate obedience within a cultural context where the child and family members are at high risk of being harmed or killed. While research indicates the ineffectiveness of physical punishment, little attention is paid to the toxic stressors that contribute to its use. I explore the ideology and the social circumstances that drive this behavior. I also highlight the paucity of psychoanalytic conceptual thinking about the social polity in general and on issues of race and class in particular. Thoughts on effective psychoanalytically informed interventions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Neo-liberalism
• African-Americans
• parents
• physical punishment
• race
• class
• low-income
• toxic stress
• psychoanalysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C. Jama Adams

C. Jama Adams, Ph.D., is a Child-Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. His research focuses on the experiences of Africana persons from a multidisciplinary and international perspective. He has published on the social and psychological stressors confronting Africana families.