Physical punishment

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For a more general discussion on the topic read the Wikipedia article on [[wikipedia:Corporal punishment|Corporal punishment]]
 
For a more general discussion on the topic read the Wikipedia article on [[wikipedia:Corporal punishment|Corporal punishment]]
  
'''Physical punishment''' is the deliberate infliction of [[pain]] or other bodily suffering intended as [[correction]] or [[punishment]]. The practice is generally held to differ from [[torture]] in that it is applied for disciplinary reasons and is therefore intended to be limited and justifiable (for (re)education, justice etc.), rather than intended to totally subdue the will of the victim (as for interrogation or pure terror).
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The definition of '''Physical punishment''' is the deliberate infliction of [[pain]] or other bodily suffering intended as [[correction]] or [[punishment]]. The practice is generally held to differ from [[torture]] in that it is applied for disciplinary reasons and is therefore intended to be limited and justifiable (for (re)education, justice etc.), rather than intended to totally subdue the will of the victim (as for interrogation or pure terror). '''Physical punishment''' is also described by the term '''corporal punishment'''.  
  
Corporal punishment is sometimes [[fetish|fetishized]], and is the basis of a number of [[paraphilia]]s, most notably [[erotic spanking]]. The techniques and rituals of corporal punishment are often included in [[BDSM]] activities; see [[impact play]].  
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'''Physical punishment''' is sometimes [[fetish|fetishized]], and is the basis of a number of [[paraphilia]]s, most notably [[erotic spanking]]. The techniques and rituals of corporal punishment are often included in [[BDSM]] activities; see [[impact play]] and [[diciplin]].  
  
==Types and means==
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Within the context of BDSM physical punishment
While it is possible to classify corporal punishments by the categories of its scope of application (e.g. educational including parental and school discipline, other domestic, judicial etc.), i.e. by who can punish who and why, see above- this section elaborates the various ways to perform the physical torment.
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===Anatomical target===
 
===Anatomical target===
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* how painful is it
 
* how painful is it
 
* how humiliating (especially if bared)
 
* how humiliating (especially if bared)
* how safe (except for deliberate mutilation -such as amputation and branding- or execution, grave permanent damage must be avoided) if badly hit and, even in more moderate cases, how incapacitating (unless the punishee is already under custodial sentence other then hard labour, physically disabling the victim to work is rather contraproductive in stead of coercing better -obedient, productive- conduct).  
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* how safe if badly hit.  
 
* In addition, for instant discipline on the spot the preference tends to go to what can be hit immediately, especially if already bare (possibly so ordered or arranged) or scarcely protected by clothing, so often head and hands, or bare torso; secondly what can be bared with a simple gesture (lifting a dress or pulling down (under)garments, before proceeding with a spanking, paddling, etc..  
 
* In addition, for instant discipline on the spot the preference tends to go to what can be hit immediately, especially if already bare (possibly so ordered or arranged) or scarcely protected by clothing, so often head and hands, or bare torso; secondly what can be bared with a simple gesture (lifting a dress or pulling down (under)garments, before proceeding with a spanking, paddling, etc..  
  
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===Set and props===
 
===Set and props===
Except for 'daily' light punishment, physical discipline is often ritualized, even staged in a rather theatrical fashion.
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The act of physical discipline is often ritualized, even staged in a rather theatrical fashion.  
  
As the great variety of practices, even in similar jurisdictions, suggests, tradition and the taste of the punishing parties in place often carry at least as much weight as objective practical considerations, especially if one considers there seems to have been relatively little effort to obtain functional knowledge from systematic comparative research.
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====Apparatus====
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While physical punishment technically requires no more that the implement selected for the punishment it is common to use a variety of aperatus to aid the process of punishment. The aperatus can serve an number of different functions;
  
====Site & Location====
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* To position the victim
While light and informal punishment is often administered on the spot, for serious discipline and in an institutional context there are often rules, either laid down as such or deriving from written rules (e.g. if a juvenile is to receive his lashing from the police, he is logically brought there for punishment).
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* To secuure the victim and prevent him/her from moving/escaping
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* to prevent other parts of the body (other than the intended target) from being hit.
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* to further humiliate the victim
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* to allow other forms of sexual contact to take place before, during, or after the punishment.
  
====Apparatus====
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Types of aperatus used include the following
Contraptions the punishee is to be over, on and/or fixed to do not only have a practical function (which is their origin) during punishment but can also be left in place as a permanent, dissuasive display of the authority to inflict painful punishment, to deter disobedience that may cause the observing 'jurisdictional subject' to end up there for a lashing. See further under [[spanking]], also for related positioning.
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* [[wikipedia:falaka|Falaka]]
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* [[Spanking bench]]
 
* [[frame]]
 
* [[frame]]
 
* [[punishment horse]]
 
* [[punishment horse]]
 
* [[trestle]]
 
* [[trestle]]
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* [[St Andrews cross]]
  
 
====Implements====
 
====Implements====
A variety of implements are used for corporal punishment. The terms used to describe these are not fixed, varying by country and by context. There are, however, a number of common types which are frequently encountered when reading about corporal punishment. These include the following - link trough for more detailed information an each, the labels here are :
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A variety of implements are used for corporal punishment.
  
 
* Rods, varying in size and flexibility.  
 
* Rods, varying in size and flexibility.  
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* a hot iron is used for [[branding]] (alternatively a tattoo-like technique) and other burn wounds  
 
* a hot iron is used for [[branding]] (alternatively a tattoo-like technique) and other burn wounds  
 
    
 
    
However, it is frequent for informal -mainly non-institutional- corporal punishment to be administered with whatever object comes to hand. It is common, for instance, wooden spoons, slippers or hairbrush (wooden or ebony backside) or bath brush to be used in domestic punishment, whilst rulers and other classroom equipment have been used in schools, as well as some items adopted from domestic practice, such as [[slippering]] (unlike booting not on the foot but wielded by hand, rather like a paddle).  
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However, it is also common for punishment to be administered with whatever object comes to hand. It is common, for instance, wooden spoons, slippers or hairbrush (wooden or ebony backside) or bath brush to be used in domestic punishment, whilst rulers and other classroom equipment have been used in school scenes, as well as some items adopted from domestic practice, such as [[slippering]] (unlike booting not on the foot but wielded by hand, rather like a paddle).  
  
 
[[Pervertible]]s are various objects than can be used as punitive implement (mainly in [[BDSM]] or the private sphere, open to improvisation), so we don't go into detail; when used for coercive CP, they are generally handled as a rather obvious substitute for a similar type from the groups above- the most common are included, and ultimately nearly every implement is derived from an inoffensive utility.
 
[[Pervertible]]s are various objects than can be used as punitive implement (mainly in [[BDSM]] or the private sphere, open to improvisation), so we don't go into detail; when used for coercive CP, they are generally handled as a rather obvious substitute for a similar type from the groups above- the most common are included, and ultimately nearly every implement is derived from an inoffensive utility.

Revision as of 07:50, 27 December 2007

For a more general discussion on the topic read the Wikipedia article on Corporal punishment

The definition of Physical punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain or other bodily suffering intended as correction or punishment. The practice is generally held to differ from torture in that it is applied for disciplinary reasons and is therefore intended to be limited and justifiable (for (re)education, justice etc.), rather than intended to totally subdue the will of the victim (as for interrogation or pure terror). Physical punishment is also described by the term corporal punishment.

Physical punishment is sometimes fetishized, and is the basis of a number of paraphilias, most notably erotic spanking. The techniques and rituals of corporal punishment are often included in BDSM activities; see impact play and diciplin.

Within the context of BDSM physical punishment

Contents

Anatomical target

A crucial, inevitable choice is which part of the body is to suffer the painful treatment; sometimes a combination of several targets is chosen, so as to maximize the longer-lasting discomfort.

Several considerations can be taken into account, mainly :

  • how painful is it
  • how humiliating (especially if bared)
  • how safe if badly hit.
  • In addition, for instant discipline on the spot the preference tends to go to what can be hit immediately, especially if already bare (possibly so ordered or arranged) or scarcely protected by clothing, so often head and hands, or bare torso; secondly what can be bared with a simple gesture (lifting a dress or pulling down (under)garments, before proceeding with a spanking, paddling, etc..

An 'dissection' of human anatomy in this vulnerable light:

  • By far the most popular choice (i.e., with disciplinarians: they choose) are the buttocks, indeed some languages have a specific word for their chastisement: spanking (see this elaborate article) in English, fessée in French, nalgada in Spanish (both romanesque words directly derived from the word for buttock)- this is a logical choice for these rather large, fleshy body parts are sensitive without endangering any bodily functions, heal well and relatively fast and have an intimate connotation that implies intense humiliation, often increased as baring them often also exposes the genitals--care must be taken not to hit these accidentally, so protective padding may be used (also for the kidneys) with dangerous implements, even if the spankee is otherwise stark naked
  • although lower parts of the back of the legs, notably thighs and calves, are reportedly about as sensitive and no more incapacitating, making them a logical alternative in cultures were a bare bottom is to indecent, they are rarely targeted
  • the back and the shoulders are the second most common choice; as long as the spine (paralysis possible) and excessive abuse of the kidneys (irreparable) is avoided, great pain is possible with limited incapacitation and humiliation, suitable for an adult 'honor corps' as often in the military
  • the abdomen and the ribs are again rather dangerous for 'accidental' damage, and hence not a common target
  • except for deliberate mutilation, the genitalia are rarely targeted, though very sensitive and the most humiliating, for the damage is to hard to control (except with sophisticated modern methods such as electrodes)
  • joints (such as knees) are an even more illogical, indeed rather rare choice: no humiliation, grave risk of incapacitation and even permanent damage
  • the head is also a dangerous choice, but more popular, especially the cheeks (relatively safe; indeed the same word is used for the bottom: butt-cheeks) and boxing the ears (hearing disability tends to manifest itself years later, so it's often ignored)
  • the hand of primates is perhaps evolution's finest product in terms of multifunctionality and precision (hence the notion 'dexterity'), requiring a sophisticated sense of touch; it is quite sensitive and not humiliating, while great force, especially with a hard implement, could cause excessive damage, so usually only the (most fleshy) palm is hit rather then the knuckles, and even then incapacitation (for manual labour and writing as in class) is generally a drawback
  • the soles of the feet are extremely sensitive, in se not humiliating, but quite incapacitating for a long time, while full recovery is possible even after an excruciating dose- see falaka

Set and props

The act of physical discipline is often ritualized, even staged in a rather theatrical fashion.

Apparatus

While physical punishment technically requires no more that the implement selected for the punishment it is common to use a variety of aperatus to aid the process of punishment. The aperatus can serve an number of different functions;

  • To position the victim
  • To secuure the victim and prevent him/her from moving/escaping
  • to prevent other parts of the body (other than the intended target) from being hit.
  • to further humiliate the victim
  • to allow other forms of sexual contact to take place before, during, or after the punishment.

Types of aperatus used include the following

Implements

A variety of implements are used for corporal punishment.

  • Rods, varying in size and flexibility.
    • A thin, flexible rod is often called a switch.
    • The Birch, a number of strong, flexible branches, bound together in their natural state.
    • Caning with canes of various types, most notably durable species of rottan, known at the rattan, or similar non-flat solid implements in on piece, e.g. (hickory) stick; even heavier cudgels.
  • The Paddle, a flat wooden or leather pad with a handle, sometimes holed, is still commonly used for corporal punishment in the USA.
  • For flogging, various flexible implements are used, mostly in leather (modifications such as knots, holes or hard -e.g. metal, bone- objects fixed on them render he 'bite' considerably harder), including:
    • Straps of various types including (razor) strop.
    • not to be confused with the lighter belt (thinner, soupler) which is often doubled, yet in Scotland and northern England, the term belt is also a euphemism for the tawse, a strap split into a number of tails at one end.
    • Whips are common in judicial punishment and prison discipline, with varieties including crops, the famous Russian knout and South African sjambok
    • multi-thong equivalents include the wikipedia:scourge:scourge and martinet in leather; while rope is the most common material for a flogger and the cat o' nine tails (mainly used in naval discipline, for army and judicial including prison flogging a leather version was common; there were also milder forms and variants).
  • axe, knife, sword and other blanc weapons or even the surgical scalpel etc are generally used for punishments named otherwise than by the instrument, rather by the damage down by cutting bodyparts, as in flaying, castration or (indetermined) amputation
  • a hot iron is used for branding (alternatively a tattoo-like technique) and other burn wounds

However, it is also common for punishment to be administered with whatever object comes to hand. It is common, for instance, wooden spoons, slippers or hairbrush (wooden or ebony backside) or bath brush to be used in domestic punishment, whilst rulers and other classroom equipment have been used in school scenes, as well as some items adopted from domestic practice, such as slippering (unlike booting not on the foot but wielded by hand, rather like a paddle).

Pervertibles are various objects than can be used as punitive implement (mainly in BDSM or the private sphere, open to improvisation), so we don't go into detail; when used for coercive CP, they are generally handled as a rather obvious substitute for a similar type from the groups above- the most common are included, and ultimately nearly every implement is derived from an inoffensive utility.

Dramatis personae

While a summary punishment can routinely be performed with only two participants, e.g. an educator putting a naughty child over his lap and spanking its bottom while scolding its misdeeds, there is often, especially with a more severe punishment and/or in an institutional context, a more elaborate and formalistic procedure which can involve a small host of cast members, most of whom can make a difference to what exactly will happen and how

On the punishing side

  • It all starts with the authority to punish : for judicial punishment, this is normally the legislator, who defines the rules, at least in principle, as to which inacceptable actions are to be met with painful punishment, and who can apply them; the rules can be extremely precise, or at least aim to be, in determining a concordance between crime and punishment, or leave considerable margin; sometimes a specific case is dealt with at this very level, as for a political crime; in other spheres, often within general rules laid down by the actual legislator, the rules can be made by the school board, the master of the slaves/household, etcetera. However in real life minor punishments are often left to the ad hoc discretion of the discipliner, even where severe punishments have to be met with formal procedure- e.g.
  • Next there is the role of the judge, who determines for each punishable deed whether the conditions for application are met and fixes the fitting punishment; this judgment can go into more details, usually including (possibly simply repeating the specifications in the rules, sometimes modifying those) the anatomical target, the implement, the number of strokes, and whether the victim will be bared; in the non-judicial spheres, this can be for example the teacher in class or the headmaster, dean of discipline etcetera (often only for graver offenses), an overseeer, any officer or subaltern, etcetera
  • Finally there is the actual punishment officer(s) charged with the physical execution; while in private spheres this is often the same as the 'judge', judicial sentences are generally ordered to be carried out by a third party specified by the law or in the judgment (oerwise it lay be impicite custom), usually the police, (para)military, prison staff, even a bailiff, or a professional executioner; imprecise judgments may leave considerable discretion to this level, e.g. determining with which implement to administer a punishment merely expressed in an ambivalent wording such as 'lashes', leaving a choice from the customary arsenal of implements, definitely affecting the gravity of the beating. Occasionally two or more officers (e.g. bosun's mates wielding the cat o' nine tails) take turns in administering a considerable number of lashes, so as to be 'fresh' enough to hit hard; a subtle ploy is including a left-handed one, so as the assure the stripes will frequently crisscross, which cuts even deeper
  • Sometimes an element of revenge is build in by allowing a part grieved by the punishee the satisfaction (even greater when naked and/or over the lap) of administering all or part of the sentence, or is even built in at corps spirit level, as described in the article fustuarium
  • Sometimes the choice of a specific administrator is guided by the punishee's expected perception:
  • Some may only play a subsidiary role, such as to fetch implements, to tie down the victim, to grip him down (say one per limb; hence called holder-down- as these get a very close view, or even divest, the humilitation factor is thus enhanced in case of punishment in the bare) or even to be used physically to horse him on
  • Occasionally several punishees are even made to use the same implement on each-other; as in trading licks, or even because the punishment officer would get to tired during a mass beating

The victim of the punishment

The punished party is often described by terms referring to his legal or other punishable status, e.g. convict, prisoner, culprit, miscreant, offender, or to the type of punishment imposed, e.g. spankee, whippee.

  • While he is the centre of attention, as a rule little or no choice is given to him (or if so it's often meant to be tantalizing, neither option being preferable, e.g. a graver implement or more cuts), and his submission is coerced, e.g. extra swats for not maintaining the imposed (exposed) position or on the hands if they move in a reflex to the agonizing posterior.
  • Furthermore in some cases punishees are even forced -a rather sadistic ploy- to some cooperation, such as sailors having to prepare a cat o' nine tails for use on their own back; children sent to cut a switch or rod (possibly in advance, e.g., once a year as a reminder of being subject to it) for use on their own bottomsl, again under treat of extra cuts; or less dramatically children or pledges fetching (or in the latter case even supplying) the cane or paddle for their own chastisement

Medical officer(s)

  • often it is prescribed by law, sentence or custom that a medically qualified person must examine the condemned (in the judicial sphere, not in the domestic model) to estimate wether his condition (e.g. cardiological) requires the beating to be postponed, mitigated or even abandoned, though generally this is a formality
  • usually the same stays to observe the execution of the sentence, in principle to intervene if the victim is in excessive (especially mortal) danger, but again this rarely results in cessation (some die nevertheless), or he even limits himself to bringing the convict back to conscience
  • after the wounds have been inflicted, especially with an instrument reputed for its damaging bite, such as the judicial cane or cat o'nine tails, either the same as above or -especially if there was none yet- another, such as prison infirmery staff, generally examins the wounds, which may urgently require medical care such as disinfecting and dressing

Passive witnesses

  • Especially if a precise punishment is imposed by regulations or specified in a formal sentence, often one or more official witnesses are prescribed, or somehow specified (e.g. from the faculty in a school, court -, police - or military officers) to see to the correct execution. Although this is often motivated as a guarantee against excess and for fair application, many victims rather perceive them as further embarrassment.
  • a party grieved by the punishee may be allowed the satisfaction of witnessing the humbled state of exposure and agony
  • the presence of peers, such as class mates, or an even more public venue such as a pillory on a square, in modern times even press presence, may serve two purposes: increasing the humilitation of the punishee and serving as an example to the audience
  • arrangments for peers subjects to the same punishment, or in line to suffer it soon, to hear the agony or see the beaten punishee frog-marched afterwards or even under the shower may be designed to terrify them

Other parameters of severity

  • Firstly there is the dosing: how many strokes? This is of course easy to prescribe, so the choice is clearly attributed.
  • An objective flaw in the system is that only mechanical administration (not practiced for beatings, as opposed to say the guillotine in capital punishment) would make the dosage an objective measure of the force applied, allowing a realistic estimation of the corporal damage it inflicts; even then, the actual level of induced pain can only be guessed as it depends on the individually varied treshold of sensitivity, even if allowances are made for such factors as age/size, but a discipliner who repeatedly punishes the same person(s) (such as an educator) may get a reasonable feel for it, raising the dilemma if justice is best served by equal punishment for equal crimes or by equal suffering
  • Various subtle modes of application also influence the efficiency of a stroke, e.g. British policemen wielding the birch learned it hurts even more if a move of the hand makes it slide along (like a claw) just when it reaches the bare skin

Procedure

For further details on positions and sequence of actions, see under spanking : most is identical or derives logicaly from what is said there


See also

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