In “The Outsiders” why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?

In "The Outsiders," the character of Johnny reveals that he prefers it when his father is physically abusive to him because it is the only time his father shows any emotion towards him. Johnny comes from an abusive household, and his father often neglects him, preferring to spend time drinking and getting into fights rather than caring for his family. When Johnny's father does pay attention to him, it is usually in the form of physical violence.

As Johnny explains to Ponyboy, "I had a few fights, too, but they were nothing compared to the ones at home. I never got anything like the marks you got. And I never got chased out of anywhere. Even if my old man did hit me, I never hit him back. He was a hard worker...it wasn't his fault that he didn't know how to do anything else but work hard and be mean." (The Outsiders, Chapter 4)

For Johnny, the physical abuse is a sign of his father's attention, albeit in a negative form. The abuse provides him with a temporary sense of relief from the emotional neglect he experiences at home. Johnny's preference for physical violence is a sad commentary on his desperate need for affection and validation, even if it comes from a harmful source.

Ultimately, Johnny's experiences demonstrate the devastating effects of domestic violence on children and how it can lead to harmful patterns of behavior and feelings of worthlessness.