Question of the Week

The Question of the Week for March 4, 2007:

For which reasons did your parents punish you for having accidents?
(Check all that apply.)

Intended participants for this question: All boys and adult males who were punished for having accidents

They were frustrated

They were embarrassed

They didn't want to deal with the mess

They felt I was too old for having accidents

They thought I was being lazy

They thought I was being defiant

It made them feel like inferior parents

To get me to stop having accidents

They didn't want to keep buying diapers

They didn�t want to deal with the extra laundry

They didn't want to deal with the smell

They didn't want to deal with other inconveniences it caused

Before age 6, how often were you punished for having accidents?
(Check only one.)

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

From ages 6 to 12, how often were you punished for having accidents?
(Check only one.)

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

I'm not that old yet

From ages 13 to 17, how often were you punished for having accidents?
(Check only one.)

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

I'm not that old yet

How often did you have pee accidents?
(Check only one for each age)

Before age 6- Frequently

Before age 6- Sometimes

Before age 6- Rarely

Before age 6- Never

Ages 6-12- Frequently

Ages 6-12- Sometimes

Ages 6-12-- Rarely

Ages 6-12-- Never

Not this old yet

Ages 13-17- Frequently

Ages 13-17- Sometimes

Ages 13-17- Rarely

Ages 13-17- Never

Not this old yet

How often did you have poop accidents?
(Check only one for each age)

Before age 6- Frequently

Before age 6- Sometimes

Before age 6- Rarely

Before age 6- Never

Ages 6-12- Frequently

Ages 6-12- Sometimes

Ages 6-12-- Rarely

Ages 6-12-- Never

Not this old yet

Ages 13-17- Frequently

Ages 13-17- Sometimes

Ages 13-17- Rarely

Ages 13-17- Never

Not this old yet

Did you feel like you deserved to be punished for having accidents?
(Check only one.)

Yes

Yes, somewhat

Not really

Not at all

In which ways were you punished for having accidents?
(Check all that apply.)

Made to wear diapers (pants on)

Made to wear diapers (pants off)

Made to remove pants and go around in underwear

Made to go naked

Made to wear extra pairs of underwear (pants on)

Made to wear extra pairs of underwear (pants off)

Spanked (pants on)

Spanked (pants off, diapers or underwear on)

Spanked (bare butt)

Made to wash out soiled pants

Made to wash out soiled underwear

Made to be seen by others in diapers

Grounded

Sent to bed early

Denied other privileges

Which kinds of diapers were used for punishment on you?
(Check all that apply.)

Single disposable diapers- plain white

Single disposable diapers- patterned/colored

Multiple disposable diapers- plain white

Multiple disposable diapers- patterned/colored

Single cloth diapers- plain white

Single cloth diapers- patterned/colored

Multiple cloth diapers- plain white

Multiple cloth diapers- patterned/colored

Multiple underpants- plain white

Multiple underpants- patterned/colored

Other makeshift diapers

I was made to go pantsless in these kinds of diapers

Who witnessed your accidents and the punishment that followed?
(Check all that apply.)

Mother

Father

Younger brother

Older brother

Younger sister

Older sister

Aunt/Uncle

Uncle

Grandmother

Grandfather

Friend

Brothers' friends

Sisters' friends

Other boy

Other girl

Other adult

How effective do you think getting punished for accidents is/was for you?
(Check only one.)

Very effective

Moderately effective

Somewhat effective

Barely effective

Not effective at all

Provide details on how you were punished for your accidents. If punishment frequency and/or methods changed with age please include these details:

Provide details on the reasons your parents punished you for having accidents. Did you feel such reasons were justified at the time, or in retrospect? Describe the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the ways you were punished:

How did you deal with the frustration of getting punished for something you felt was beyond your control and not your fault?

List some examples of situations where you felt that getting punished for accidents was unfair (e.g. not being allowed to use bathroom and then having an accident):

How did your brothers react to seeing you get punished for having accidents?

How did your sisters react to seeing you get punished for having accidents?

What was the worst punishment you received for having an accident? Where and when did it occur and what kind of accident was it (pee/poop)? What were the circumstances and the consequences that followed?

If you were a parent (or if you are one) would you punish your sons for having accidents? Explain why or why not?

How did getting punished for having accidents make you feel towards your parents? Did it have any effect on how you feel about them now? Did you ever seek reprisal or get back at them for unfair punishment?

How do you wish your parents could have handled dealing with your accidents?

Please share any comments or additional details regarding your answer choice(s): (500 chars. max):

Please provide a question you would like to see asked for a Question of the Week (500 chars. max):

Thank you for participating in the Question of the Week. Results will be posted each Sunday.