Investigating Attitude towards Corporal Punishment as a Predictor of Personality Traits and Self-efficacy in Public and Private Sector School Teachers

Abstract

Teaching, a challenging occupation, incorporates the inherent components of self-efficacy, personality traits, lack of energy, and thoughts of inner discomfort. It encouraged the current study to explore the part that predicts how teachers feel about physical punishment in terms of personality traits and self-efficacy. A non-probability convenience sample of 140 school teachers from the public and private secondary sectors, utilising a correlation design, individuals with ages ranging from 22 to 66 years (M = 38.4, SD = 10.8) were recruited. Following APA criteria, participants presented sociodemographic information and responses to research variables on the Big-Five Personality Scale, Teacher's Sense of Efficacy Scale, and Teachers Questionnaire to assess attitudes towards Corporal Punishment. The results indicated that extraversion, neuroticism, and effectiveness in teaching methods were the personality traits that positively predicted attitudes toward corporal punishment. At the same time, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness were the personality traits that negatively predicted attitudes toward corporal punishment. Teachers in public schools typically report having a favourable opinion of corporal punishment. Additionally, male educators usually report having a favourable attitude toward physical punishment. The results included the requirement to report the factors responsible for the teachers' views on using physical punishment.