Medicine Science 2014;3(2):1198-208 Punishment Methods Original Investigation doi: 10.5455/medscience.2013.02.8121 www.medicinescience.org | Med-Science 1198 Perception Differences in Punishment Methods against Child Ahsen Kaya 1 , Ekin O. Aktas 1 1 Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Izmir, Turkey Abstract Potentially, all children have the risk of encountering with the ill-treatment of adults. In Turkey, discipline oriented punishment behaviors are social problems because of their traditional acceptability. In this study, the comparison of punishment methods both physical and emotional, which parents and teachers state to apply on their children/students and which the children states, assessment of perception differences were presented. By using randomized cluster sampling, it was chosen 4 schools from 27 elementary schools in Cigli, Izmir, Turkey. The questionnaires about punishment methods were applied to students, parents and teachers. Answers of 411 students, 135 parents and 85 teachers are evaluated by statistical program. Results: Statistically significant difference is detected in perception of physical punishment methods among parents (2.6%) and their children (11.4%), and in perception of both physical (respectively 4.9% - 13.7%) and emotional (respectively 65.6% - 35.7%) punishment methods among teachers and their students. A statistically significant difference has not been detected among the emotional and economical punishment methods stated by parents and their children. Emotional punishment methods are detected to be specified to a greater amount by teachers as compared to both children and parents. The physical punishment methods are still applied methods at home and at school in Turkey. Emotional punishment methods are more acceptable by parents and children than teachers. In Turkey, necessary precautions and consciousness raising programs should be applied for especially the physical punishment methods not to be seen as an acceptable behavior both at home and school. Key Words: Child abuse, punishment, parent, teacher, violence (Rec.Date: Nov 05, 2013 Accept Date: Nov 11, 2013) Corresponding Author: Ahsen Kaya, Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Forensic Medicine Department, Izmir, Turkey E-Mail: pekcanahsen@yahoo.com Phone: +90 232 390 3257 Fax: +90 232 390 3258