A child's emotions and adult authoritarianism as determinants of punishment.

The present research attempted to assess the effects of a child's emothins on the severity of punishment suggested by adult subjects who hold authoritarian or nonauthoritarian attitudes about child rearing. The administration of a punishment scale, the dependent measure, to several population suggested that this scale is a reliable measurement instrument. Also, it was found that authoritarians suggested more severe punsihment, but that a child's emotions may have little effect on the level of suggested punishment.