Corporal punishment by a parent for disciplinary purposes does not constitute abuse if it does not result in substantial harm.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It may constitute abuse regardless of harm
• D. Only if severe

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how abuse is defined in relation to harm. In many child-protection contexts, abuse is distinguished from ordinary parental discipline by the presence of substantial harm or risk of serious harm. If corporal punishment does not result in substantial harm, it does not meet that harm-based threshold and is not classified as abuse under that definition.

So the statement is true because the defining factor is the level of harm: without substantial harm, the act falls below the abuse threshold. That said, this doesn’t mean such punishment is universally acceptable or free from other legal or safety concerns—repeated or escalating punishment can still raise concerns about welfare, and definitions can vary by jurisdiction.