The Impact of School Corporal Punishment on the Journey to Becoming a Person - MSc Dissertation

By David Jordan

Introduction

School corporal punishment (SCP) is the intentional use of physical force against students by school staff with the intention of causing the child to experience pain, but not injury, as a method of discipline. This research is based on the personal experiences of four Irish psychotherapists who all experienced or witnessed prolonged and cumulative SCP throughout their school years. Their experiences took place between the 1960s and 1980s, when SCP was still practiced in Ireland.

Key Findings

School corporal punishment (SCP) can have profound and long-lasting negative impacts on individuals as they grow up and develop into adulthood.

The key findings of this research are as follows:

  • SCP has a significant negative impact on various aspects of a person's life, including their psychological state, behavioral adaptations, and developmental stages.  

  • SCP can lead to psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.  

  • SCP can also lead to behavioral problems such as hypervigilance and substance abuse.  

  • SCP can disrupt a person's relational, emotional, and educational development.  

  • SCP can negatively affect a person's self-concept from childhood into adulthood.  

Despite these challenges, all four participants in this study reported significant personal growth and positive changes in their self-concept after confronting and exploring the impact of SCP through psychotherapy.  

Interpretation of Findings

The findings of this research suggest that SCP is a form of cumulative developmental trauma. This means that the effects of SCP can accumulate over time, leading to increasingly negative consequences for the individual.  

One of the most common psychological effects of SCP is a condition called "nameless dread." This is a pervasive sense of anxiety that can be difficult to pinpoint or name. Nameless dread can lead to hypervigilance, or a state of constant alertness for danger.  

Another common effect of SCP is dissociative splitting. This is a defense mechanism that allows the individual to distance themselves from the trauma of SCP. However, dissociative splitting can also lead to a fragmented sense of self.  

In addition to these psychological effects, SCP can also lead to learned helplessness. This is a belief that one's actions have no impact on the outcome of events. Learned helplessness can lead to passivity and resignation, as well as difficulties in forming healthy relationships.  

SCP can also disrupt a person's emotional development. This can lead to difficulties in identifying, expressing, and regulating emotions.    

The effects of SCP on educational development can be significant. Children who experience SCP may associate learning with fear and anxiety. This can lead to academic difficulties and a lifelong aversion to learning.    

The cumulative effects of SCP can have a lasting impact on a person's self-concept. This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, shame, and worthlessness.  

Post traumatic Growth

Despite the many negative effects of SCP, it is important to remember that people can heal and grow from trauma. All four participants in this study reported significant personal growth after confronting and working through their experiences of SCP. This growth included a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, improved self-esteem, and stronger relationships.  

Conclusion

SCP caused immense suffering to generations of Irish children and adults. With awareness around these findings it is essential that it informs;

1. Raising awareness around its impact and therefore validating survivors experiences

2. how we treat survivors in order to help them heal.

3. The process of truth, reconciliation and healing. For this to begin, the failings and wrongdoings of the state and church must be acknowledged.

4. How funding is provided in order to treat survivors.