This unique volume provides an insightful research-based overview of corporal punishment as implemented in a variety of venues and cultures. It is the first comprehensive analysis of practices that while often controversial, remain deeply ingrained in human culture.Corporal Punishment defines what may be humanity's oldest form of punishment both historically and in its contemporary forms, then looks at how it is currently applied to children, students, the incarcerated, and in religious settings. A series of case studies examines corporal punishment in specific regions of Bolivia, the Bahamas, Nigeria, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia to understand why certain societies have rejected this once universal approach while others continue to accept it, either within limits or without reservation.