4 February 1999
Council Member Nathan Miley
One Frank Ogawa Plaza,
Oakland, CA 94612
Attn: F. Joseph DeVries, Aide
e-mailed to: fjdevries@oaklandnet.com.
ptave@silcon.com.
Dear Council Member Miley,
As a concerned citizen and as a developmental neuropsychologist and cross-cultural psychologist, who has studied the origins of
peaceful and violent behaviors for most of my professional life, I want to endorse the resolution submitted to the Oakland City Council
by Jordan Riak, Director, Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE) which "declares that corporal punishment of
children is not a recommended practice and the City encourages all of its residents to refrain from hitting their children", among its
other provisions.
There is abundant scientific research that supports the damaging effects of corporal punishment upon children and that cultures which
sanction violence against children are also low in nurturance of these children which translates into an adult culture characterized by
high violence, warfare and alcoholism.
In brief, my studies were able to predict the peaceful or violent nature of 49 pre-industrial adult cultures with 80% accuracy based
upon the degree of bonding between the mother and infant/child. Bonding is inversely related to the degree of physical pain and punishment inflicted upon the infant/child.
I am enclosing selected articles of this research for your review and additional information on the reciprocal relationship between
violence and nurturance can be obtained from the following website: http://www.excelsior.org/~erik/violence
With respect to examining the degree of peace and violence in this country, I compared the 15 most violent States with the 15 least
violent States, as measured by the 1996 rape rates for each State, as reported by the Uniform Crime Reports (FBI), October 4, 1997;
and compared them as to whether they permitted or prohibited corporal punishment of schoolchildren, as listed by PTAVE at
www.nospank.net
The results indicated a highly significant statistical relationship between state endorsed spanking of children and high rape rates of the
individual states. States that support spanking of children have statistically significantly higher rape rates than those states that do not
support spanking of children. In brief, 82% of high rape rate States were Paddle States; and 68% of low rape rate States were
non-paddle states. The paddle states had 2.6 times as much "High Rape", as did the non-paddle states. Conversely, the non-paddle states had 3.8 times of the lowest rape rates than did the paddle states. See Table 1 (attached).
These results are consistent with a large body of scientific evidence, which documents that violence against children is reflected later
in a violent adult society. If the city of Oakland seeks to reduce violence in its city, it must act to reduce violence against children and
to promote positive physical affectional bonding with its children.
The City Council of Oakland is urged to adopt the PTAVE Resolution and to implement programs of positive parenting which must begin with affectional bonding between the mother and infant/child relationship. Breastfeeding for "two years of age and beyond", as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, is a powerful means to promote affectional bonding between
mother and infant/child.
Your attention is drawn to the enclosed papers, which discusses the relationship between vital nutrients found in breastmilk but not in
formula milk. These nutrients are essential for normal brain development, as well as normal development of the immunological
competence of the infant/child. Specifically, the vital role of the precursor amino acid tryptophan is essential for normal development
of brain serotonin and behavior. Many studies have shown that deficits of brain serotonin are highly linked to depression, impulse
dyscontrol and violence (homicide and suicide). Tryptophan is absent in infant formula milk but richly present in colostrum and
breastmilk.
There is probably good reason to understand why this nation is supporting over 600,000 annual prescriptions of the Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs), e.g. Prozac, Paxtil, Zoloft, etc. to our children and youth. We must ask ourselves why our children and youth are so depressed and violent that they need these anti-depressant medications?
In this respect, the city of Oakland would benefit from promoting the incorporation of the recommendations and objectives of the California Department of Health Services Primary Care and Family Health, as stated in its publication "Breastfeeding: Investing In California's Future", Breastfeeding Promotion Committee Report, November 15, 1996 (contact: Lori Henkins, 916.928-0955).
I trust this letter with enclosures will be helpful to the City Council of Oakland, as it deliberates the value of supporting the PTAVE Resolution, and as it seeks programs of positive parenting to reduce the violence of Oakland. I would be pleased to offer additional information that you may require.
Sincerely,
James W. Prescott, Ph.D.
Director
Institute of Humanistic Science
cc: Jordan Riak
Director, PTAVE