Why did corporal punishment start?

Answer 1

I suppose because physical pain and humiliation were traditional recompense for transgressions, as well as a possible deterrent to future transgressions. If you read The Bible, whipping is mentioned in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament too, although preachers probably do not talk of it much. It is still used in many parts of the world, but not in the West anymore, gradually phased out as cruel in the 1800's and early 1900's.

Answer 2

The rationale behind corporal punishment is two fold. Firstly, deterrence is a major aspect. The rationale states that if a person knows that physical punishment will result from an action, then there will be a strong impulse to avoid the action. Secondly is negative conditioning. As the punishment is applied, the recipient is conditioned that the actions taken will result in a negative outcome.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you are referring to, as the Church, Itself, has no documents that I can find advocating corporal punishment. Within reason, I don't believe that the Church finds anything wrong with moderate corporal punishment. There has been a long history in the Church of self-administered corporal punishment for penance, again mild to moderate, nothing severe, allowed with the permission of individual confessors. And, of course, the Sacred Scriptures advocate such punishment for children, Proverbs 13:24 "He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him correcteth him betimes. (Douay-Rheims translation). St. Benedict in his rule for monks also advocated corporal punishment for children and intractable men who would not be corrected with words.

Answer 4

Corporal punishment (i.e.: physical punishment) has probably always existed since humans began to live together in groups in some semblance of social order and civilization.

Answer 5

Because in "real life" many people just don't listen to 'scoldings' and lectures on being nice.