Rochester , New York ( CNN ) -- As the director of a leading research center on child abuse , I have seen all too often that what a parent considers legitimate discipline can quickly deteriorate into violence fueled by anger . Parents often say that they spank their children to teach them how to behave . The word discipline means `` to teach , '' but does spanking really teach children to behave , or does it teach them to solve problems with violence ? At our center , we see many parents who spank their children to teach them not to hit their siblings . Spanking impressionable children may reduce undesirable behavior in the short term . In the long term , however , research shows that it offers children a poor example of how to solve problems or deal with difficult situations . The posting of the video of a Texas judge beating his 16-year-old daughter with a belt , and the controversy surrounding deaths purportedly associated with the pro-spanking book `` To Train Up a Child , '' have reignited the debate about corporal punishment . Even those viewing the disturbing video differ on whether or not it reflects the appropriate use of discipline . When does spanking cross the line and become physical abuse ? Although corporal punishment has been widely accepted throughout the history of the United States , psychologists and other professionals here are increasingly concerned about the harm it may cause . Many other countries have outlawed the practice , including Austria , Germany , Greece , Kenya , Norway , Romania and Spain . Despite growing evidence against and opposition to corporal punishment in the United States , the practice remains accepted by nearly half of adults and is legal in all states . Among scientists , there is a consensus that actual physical abuse damages children , directly and over the course of a life . Although not all children who have been abused are affected the same way , decades of research show that child abuse initiates a cascade of negative social , emotional and health-related outcomes . `` Corporal punishment is of limited effectiveness and has potentially deleterious side effects , '' the American Academy of Pediatrics has said in a policy statement . A 2002 analysis of studies , published in the Psychological Bulletin , concluded that although corporal punishment can make a child obey in the short run , it also is linked with a number of long-term problems , including mental disorders and behavioral difficulties . Spanking in childhood also has been related to criminality . Too much corporal punishment can also damage the parent-child relationship , as the parent becomes a source of both nurturing and danger . Disconcertingly , spanking in childhood also is associated with approval of hitting a spouse and increased marital conflict . All the evidence and warnings , however , do n't always stop parents from hitting their kids . Personal experiences and emotion continue to dictate whether or not parents choose physical punishment . The video of the judge beating his daughter is disturbing not only because of the physical violence , but also because of the emotional abuse that is clearly present . Rather than learning not to download computer files , this girl may be learning to hide her behavior from her parents , to avoid bringing them her questions and concerns . She may become more likely to resolve conflict with violence , to become involved with people who are abusive , and eventually to hit her own children . All parents surely want to raise well-adjusted children . Discipline and structure are key components of doing so . It would be naÃ¯ve to think that even the most dedicated parents do not sometimes become frustrated with defiant children . There are many ways of disciplining children that are effective and nonviolent . We need to show parents what they are , and to make alternative approaches more widely accessible if we are to avoid tragic outcomes . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sheree L. Toth .
Sheree L. Toth : Does spanking teach children to behave , or does it encourage violence ? Research shows that it offers children a poor example of how to solve problems , Toth says . Toth : Many countries have outlawed spanking , yet most Americans think it 's OK . Many studies link spanking with a number of long-term problems , Toth says .