Gunnoe & Mariner (1997) Toward a Developmental-Contextual Model of the Effects of Parental Spanking on Children's Aggression. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:768-775

This well designed study critically examines the claim that spanking teaches children that physical aggression can be used appropriately in conflict situations and reaches a different conclusion than reported in the Straus study. The authors looked at a younger age group where spanking is more appropriate. They concluded that "For most children, claims that spanking teaches aggression seem unfounded." Increased levels of child aggression are not likely when the child interprets a spanking as a legitimate expression of parental authority.

This study was almost totally ignored by the media (appeared in the same issue of the Archives reporting the Straus et al. study). The article was reported in the US NEWS article (see reference on homepage).