The Causes for Child Abuse “Society as a whole, not just children, could benefit from ending the system of violent child rearing that goes under the euphemism of spanking.” Murray A. Straus(Bender 31). Although Ohio Law Permits corporal punishment in the home, school and institution, excessive physical discipline is abuse (U.S. 35). What causes a parent or guardian to cross the thin line from discipline to abuse? It could be a result of the parent/guardian having unattainable expectations or demands for the child. Maybe it’s caused by alcoholism or substance abuse. In any case child abuse occurs to, too many children and in too many ways. According to Webster’s New World Dictionar