New research indicates that spanking has minimal effects on children’s development, explaining less than 1% of behavioral outcomes. The study suggests that controlled, limited spanking may be effective for some young children, especially when used alongside milder discipline methods.
I think you really hit one of my concerning points. A lot of people who defend spanking seem to be over enthusiastically defending spanking. I know parents who regret that they have to use physical force at times and struggle to use the minimum amount, and they shouldn’t be judged if they’re only using it to prevent immediate harm. But I regularly see people talking about spanking like they’re looking for an excuse. So often it seems to be a means of demonstrating power over a child or getting immediate relief from a child being frustrating.
And personally as a former little shit, I don’t think that the time my parents spanked me was on the list of things that fucked me up, hell I’m pretty sure I deserved it that time. But it also wasn’t what got me to behave. That was my mom creating an environment of trust and giving even handed punishments alongside discussions about why.