Little is known about the variability of discipline practices within the African American community and little research has been done in regards to the beliefs and disciplinary practices amongst middle and upper socioeconomic African American communities. “There is remarkably little difference in disciplinary beliefs across socioeconomic groups for African Americans. There was greater endorsement of disciplinary methods such as teaching and removing than of spanking. Thirdly, harsh spanking practices were uncommon and there was remarkably little difference across socioeconomic groups in these specific practices. In addition, we were surprised by the finding that middle/upper socioeconomic parents were more likely to use something other than a hand to spank their child”(Dobson 1992). One study of African American mothers found that if they did not agree with spanking their children but spanked anyways, their children would be more likely to be depressed. The same was not true for African American mothers that approved of spanking.