恶语伤人.doc

15. Wounding with words Its the one parental motto1 every kid knows by heart: Just because everybody else is doing it, that doesnt mean you should, too. From playgrounds to parties, the mantra2 resonates3 among tots and teens with each choice they make. But apparently, parents are the ones who need that advice. When it comes to discipline, too many parents let tempers flare out of control, says a new study by sociologist Murray A. Straus, codirector of the Family Research Lab at the University of New Hampshire. “ Parents should never yell, scream, or call their kid [derogatory4] names,” he cautions. But nearly all Americans do, no matter their ethnicity5, age, or socioeconomic6 group, the study of 991 parents concludes. Verbal attacks start early on. Half of parents have screamed, yelled, or shouted in rage at their infants7. By the time a child reaches 7 years old, 98 percent of parents are verbally lashing out. In some cases, the aggression is startling8. One of five parents has threatened to kick a teenage son or daughter out of the house, while a quarter have sworn at their offspring. The episodes can have serious repercussions9, warns Straus, who presented the findings at the American Sociological Association meeting. His earlier work has linked parental verbal aggressiveness with childrens mental illness and, along with a dozen other studies, showed that a parents vocal fury can increase the odds of a childs developing delinquency10, depression, and even bulimia11. 　　Several countries have already passed laws banning disciplinary action that inflicts12 mental suffering on a child, and Straus views them as models to emulate13. Sweden was the first to do so, with an official mandate14 in 1979 that prohibits not only spanking but also any “ humiliating treatment” of kids. Swedes publicized the rule on milk cartons, on public TV, and in schools. Many other nations followed suit, including Austria,Denmark, and Israel.And last month, Germany joined the protectiv