The culture of a good, hard spanking

Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson remains on indefinite suspension after facing felony charges for allegedly causing bodily injury to his four-year-old son in May.

He was suspended, then reinstated by the team, causing an uproar. Now, under pressure from sponsors, the public and politicians, the Vikings have reversed course. 

"We made a mistake. And we needed to get this right," said Vikings owner, Zygi Wilf.

Peterson’s charges stem from when his four-year-old son pushed another son off a video game. Peterson is accused of grabbing a tree branch, a switch, and striking the four-year-old until he bled.The family’s pediatrician called the police after he found marks on the boy.

After Peterson was arrested and released on bond, he issued a statement.

”I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen, the statement said. "I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child.” 

“I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.”

His case has opened a wider national discussion on corporal punishment and, specifically, on where to draw the line between disciplining and abusing a child.

In the U.S. it is legal to use force against a child as long as it’s reasonable. Not only is it legal, but it also has broad support.

In 2012 the University of Chicago's General Social Survey asked people if sometimes a child needs a "good, hard spanking." Some findings:

Support for spanking also differed by region. People surveyed in the Northeast and West showed little support for it, but people in the South were more OK with the idea. 

Peterson says “whoopings” were common when he was growing up in East Texas. If he’s convicted of the charges, he could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

At what point does disciplining a child cross the line to breaking the law?

Why is spanking prevalent among African-Americans?

Should corporal punishment be banned?

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story.