Non-violent parenting: Study shows surprising approval of screaming!

Non-violent parenting: Study shows surprising approval of screaming!

The debate about non-violent education is gaining momentum in Germany. A current study by the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Ulm University Hospital, in cooperation with UNICEF Germany, shows frightening trends and attitudes towards emotional punishments that still occur in education. Although the right to non-violent education was enshrined in law on November 8, 2000, the reality of dealing with these principles is complicated.

As the Ulm University Hospital reported, almost three quarters of those surveyed categorically reject emotional punishments. But alarming figures come to light: 16.1% of respondents believe it is acceptable to yell at children, while 9.2% believe locking them in a room is justified. 8.6% of those interviewed also think that the refusal to communicate, in which parents no longer speak to their children, is okay. Around 5% agree with other forms of emotional violence, such as isolation or blame.

Discrepancy between knowledge and action

What is particularly disturbing is that 25% of respondents with personal parenting experience admitted to actually using yelling. This indicates a clear discrepancy between knowledge about non-violent education and personal actions. These findings underscore the issue that parents often revert to old patterns, especially if they themselves have been subjected to emotional punishment. The Regional update highlights that people with such experiences are noticeably more likely to agree to emotional punishments than those without these experiences.

A look at social structures shows that despite 25 years of legally anchored non-violent education, emotional violence is still widespread. Professor Dr. Jörg M. Fegert, who was involved in the investigation, warns of the need to expand education about the negative effects of emotional violence. In addition, a stronger implementation of children's rights is crucial.

Call for change

The study calls for a comprehensive revision of the term non-violent education to include neglect as violence. UNICEF Germany also emphasizes the importance of anchoring children's rights in the Basic Law in order to ensure better legal protection. There is also an appeal to social responsibility: institutions, educational institutions and parents are called upon to actively support the promotion of non-violent education.

Experts agree that laws alone are not enough to prevent violence against children. Permanent information campaigns and the promotion of measures to support parents are needed to establish non-violent communication patterns. In this regard, numerous offers, such as anti-aggression training, make sense Deutschlandfunk culture highlights.

Protecting children from violence and promoting empathetic, respectful parenting are challenges that everyone must address. The current study situation clearly shows that there is still a way to go - both in society's consciousness and in its actions.