Is Ritual Spanking of Teenagers Common in the US

In the United States, ritual spanking of teenagers is not a recognized or widespread practice. While general corporal punishment does persist in some homes and institutions, especially in specific regions, the idea of structured or ceremonial spanking targeting adolescents lacks cultural, religious, or legal documentation. Available research consistently shows that spanking is more common among younger children, particularly between the ages of three and nine, and is typically framed as a disciplinary measure rather than a rite of passage.

National data reflect a steady decline in the use of spanking across age groups. Among youth aged ten to seventeen, only twenty-three percent were spanked in the past year as of 2014. For children under ten, the rate was notably higher, at forty-nine percent, but even this figure has dropped compared to previous decades. Among parents around age thirty-five, spanking prevalence fell from roughly fifty percent in 1993 to thirty-five percent by 2017. This trend suggests a generational shift in disciplinary philosophy, with more caregivers turning to non-physical methods of behavior correction.

In the household setting, spanking most often occurs with younger children, peaking at ages three to four. As children approach adolescence, its use becomes increasingly rare, with many parents considering it developmentally inappropriate. At the institutional level, corporal punishment remains legal in twenty-one states, primarily in the South. School-based corporal punishment, such as paddling, is still administered in some districts, but it overwhelmingly targets elementary and middle school students. There is no evidence of its application to high school-aged teens as a ritual or customary practice. Moreover, these incidents do not occur within a ceremonial framework and are typically documented as disciplinary actions.

Psychological and developmental research strongly discourages the use of physical punishment during adolescence. Adolescents subjected to repeated spanking—especially three or more instances—face higher risks of anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders, and academic challenges. Studies have shown that physical discipline during this critical developmental period can lead to long-term emotional and relational difficulties. This has led major medical and psychological associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, to issue formal guidance against the use of corporal punishment at all stages of childhood, with particular concern for its effects on teens.

Demographic and regional patterns further complicate the landscape. Corporal punishment is more commonly reported in southern states, where cultural norms surrounding child discipline tend to favor physical methods. In the South, fifty-nine percent of parents with children aged zero to nine report spanking, compared to just forty percent in the Northeast. Racial disparities are also evident. Black students, though comprising only twenty-two percent of school enrollment nationwide, account for thirty-eight percent of school-administered corporal punishment. Children with disabilities are similarly overrepresented in corporal punishment data, raising significant concerns about equity and discrimination in discipline practices.

Despite these patterns, there is no evidence that ritualized spanking of teenagers exists within any major or minor religious, ethnic, or cultural group in the United States. Anthropological and sociological studies do not document any such practice, nor is it found in religious doctrine, spiritual rites, or organized community traditions. In contrast to certain societies where physical initiation rituals mark the transition from childhood to adulthood, such customs are absent in mainstream American life. Isolated incidents involving abusive or extreme discipline are sometimes mischaracterized or sensationalized, but these do not reflect broader cultural norms or accepted ritual practice.

In conclusion, while spanking remains a disciplinary method used by some U.S. parents and educators, its use is overwhelmingly focused on younger children and is steadily declining. The idea of ritual spanking involving teenagers has no support in data, legal practice, or documented cultural tradition. The shift away from corporal punishment reflects growing awareness of its psychological harms and a national movement toward more constructive, respectful approaches to child and adolescent development.