(ie. "done properly")
Corporal punishment is generally employed most (and worst) by those with the poorest judgement, the most unresolved personal issues, and least ability to apply more appropriate, consistant, effective remedies.
Note:
I don't personally have trouble with spanking per se; it seems to me to be an excellent compromise between the need to "get the child's (ahem) concentrated attention, and the need to not risk any actual harm -- and as a child matures, the symbolic import probably outweighs the physical discomfort. If spanking doesn't accomplish the desired end, however, stronger measures will likely not only be ineffective, but also be deleterious, or even counter-productive.
The other factor that plays a part is the fragmentation of the family unit, (and neighbourhood) and the low presence of children in our society. Parents are much more on their own, and much exposed to a wide experience of children, than used to be the case.
People -- including parents -- generally have little appreciation or understanding of the realities of child behaviour, the range of normal child behaviour, and effective child-training tactics and strategies. This only exacerbates poor understanding and poor judgement in exercising disipline.
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