Implications of Corporal Punishment on the Child’s Mental Health in
Peshawar, Pakistan

Akhtar Munir1, Prof. Basharat Hussain2

Abstract
Corporal punishment is a common phenomenon in the lives of children in Pakistan
due to religious, cultural and legal support. The association between corporal
punishment and its psychological impacts on child has been studied around the globe
but it had not received the due attention of academician, researchers and
professionals in Pakistan. This paper aims to fill this gap between theory and
practice of corporal punishment and to highlight the psychological impacts of
corporal punishment due to its practice as the perpetrators are unaware of it negative
consequences. In order to have in-depth understanding of psychological impacts of
corporal punishment on children child psychologists were chosen for sample in
Peshawar, Pakistan. The study was qualitative in nature adopting purposive
sampling technique for sample selection. Data was collected through in-depth
interviews while data was analysed through discourse analysis method based on Gee
(1999) model of Semiotic building, World building, Activity building,
Socioculturally-situated identity and relationship building, Political building and
Connection building. The study finds that corporal punishment having negative
impacts on child emotions, increase aggression, poor cognitive development,
depression, anxiety, lack of motivation, spoils creativity and concentration and
hamper the child socialization process. These impacts further lead to poor academics
which in turn causes school drop outs. The study recommended that teacher‟s
trainings on alternative methods of behaviour modification, proper complaint
mechanism and accountability, mass awareness, proper legislation, government
interest and appointing psychologists and social workers will be beneficial for
dealing with the issue of corporal punishment in schools of Pakistan.

Keywords: Corporal Punishment, Children, School, Academics, Behaviour,
Pakistan