The Effectiveness of Corporal Punishment in Malaysian Public Schools in Addressing Bullying and Pornography Addiction: A Psychological Perspective

Abstract

Corporal punishment (CP) remains a legally sanctioned disciplinary practice in Malaysian public schools despite increasing global concern regarding its psychological, developmental, and ethical implications. Its continued use is frequently justified as a means of addressing serious adolescent misconduct, including bullying and problematic pornography use (PPU), both of which are rising in prevalence and are increasingly recognised as behaviours associated with emotional dysregulation, neurodevelopmental vulnerability, and psychosocial stressors. This narrative review examines the psychiatric and psychological evidence regarding the effectiveness of corporal punishment in addressing bullying behaviour and pornography-related misconduct among adolescents in Malaysian public secondary schools, within the context of existing legal frameworks and cultural norms. A review of international and Malaysian literature was conducted, drawing on findings from meta-analyses, neurodevelopmental research, and school-based mental health studies focusing on corporal punishment, adolescent internalizing and externalizing behaviors, bullying, and problematic pornography use. The reviewed evidence indicates limited support for corporal punishment as an effective strategy for sustained behaviour modification. While CP may be associated with short-term behavioural compliance, it is consistently linked to adverse psychological outcomes, including increased aggression, anxiety, emotional distress, impaired emotional regulation, and deterioration of student–teacher relationships. Neurodevelopmental evidence suggests that exposure to stress-based disciplinary practices during adolescence may adversely affect executive functioning and self-regulatory capacity. Furthermore, CP appears to reinforce shame–aggression cycles that are implicated in both bullying behaviours and maladaptive coping strategies such as problematic pornography use. Overall, current evidence suggests that corporal punishment has limited effectiveness in addressing complex adolescent behavioural issues and may contribute to unintended psychological harm. These findings highlight the importance of re-evaluating school disciplinary practices in Malaysia and considering the integration of psychologically informed, evidence-based, and restorative approaches to support adolescent mental health and behavioural regulation.