According to Andrew Lilico at ConservativeHome, you don't need to bother about the evidence when it comes to smacking. We beg to differ.

In a bizarre column on ConservativeHome this morning, Andrew Lilico, better known as a professional economist, comes out in a rousing defence of parents’ right to smack children.

His argument basically runs as follows:

1) Whether the evidence suggests smacking is good or bad for a child is irrelevant, as there’s no such thing as a perfect parent anyway, and evidence-based policy-making when it comes to smacking leads to a totalitarian state.

2) There may be no disciplinary alternative to smacking, so the choice for many is smacking or no discipline whatsoever

3) “Instinct, in all human societies, tells us that smacking delivers something.” [direct quotation]

4) “I smack my children as an expression of my special parent-child relationship of touch…Smacking, done properly, is an authentic expression of love in touch.” [direct quotation]

The logical structure is fairly straightforward. By saying in 1) that the evidence doesn’t matter, it allows Lilico to indulge in the cod psychology of 2,3, and 4. It is fairly reminiscent of the Stephen Colbert line:

“That’s where the truth lies, right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? You can look it up. Now, I know some of you are going to say, “I did look it up, and that’s not true.” That’s ’cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut. I did.”

For those readers interested in knowing whether physical punishment for your children can harm them beyond the initial physical damage, here is a round up of some of the evidence:

• Evidence that smacking three-year-olds leads higher rates of children being more violent towards other children, from Tulane University, New York State University and Wayne State University

• Evidence that smacking is linked to higher levels of violence in society from the University of New Hampshire

• Evidence that corporal punishment is “positively correlated with youths’ intentions to fight and fighting, bullying, and violence victimization” from the University of Minnesota and John Hopkins University

• In an analysis of 88 studies by Columbia University that corporal punishment is correlated with ten negative behaviours, such as antisocial behaviour, while one of the strongest associations was with corporal punishment and physical abuse

• Evidence that corporal punishment leads to higher rates of adult alcoholism from Peking University and Wayne State University

See also:

• Maryland madness: 14-year-old girl’s birthday wish? “Ban gay marriage” – Shamik Das, February 2nd 2012

• When a liberal is mugged by reality – Ben Mitchell, August 11th 2011

• Barnardo’s: The age of criminal responsibility should be raised – Puja Darbari, November 21st 2010

• Defending Sure Start against vicious right-wing attacks – Shamik Das, March 18th 2010

• No escape for Cameron on importance of poverty – Will Straw, January 12th 2010