Evolution of Parental Disciplinary Tactics: A Comparative Study between College Students and their Parents

Physical punishment is one of the most used disciplinary methods. Still, it is yet to be proven as one of the most effective, both in positive and negative aspects of child development, or rather a simple generational and traditional upbringing. As such, this study aimed to identify the disciplinary methods employed by college students and their parents during their childhood years and, therefore, analyze the significant differences between the two—an online survey collected and analyzed responses through descriptive and inferential analysis. The results have shown no significant differences between the two variables, as p = 0.529 > =.05, but rather, a similarity in disciplinary methods used from the past until present generations. As supported by the survey responses, physical punishment is an effective method of discipline. By this, the study concludes that the traditional execution of techniques, along with its perceived child impact, leads to the effectiveness of physical punishment. Further research providing more focus on the behavioral development of children under physical discipline is recommended to attain a more detailed understanding and comparison