A recent study suggests that there is no experimental evidence proving physical punishment is an effective way to discipline children. The findings indicate that alternative, non-physical strategies are just as effective at encouraging child cooperation, without the potential risks associated with spanking. The research was published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect. Spanking remains a widely practiced form of discipline, considered normative and socially acceptable in many cultures. Despite disapproval from some health organizations, it is estimated that globally, two out of every three children aged two to four years have been spanked. Scientists conducted the new study in response to ongoing debates about the merits of physical punishment. Recently, some academics published a commentary arguing that strict experimental trials provide evidence that spanking is an effective way to enforce child compliance. These proponents claimed that laws banning physical discipline are misguided and that spanking should remain an available option for parents. “We explored this topic because a recent invited commentary in a psychiatry journal advocated use of spanking as a means of enforcing …