and I also think it can depend on ones knowledge too....

like if a boy is beaten by his father and then sees that it did get him to quit eating dirt or quit climbing on the counter.... then he might "learn" and hold this as knowledge that that is how you get good results from bad behavior-- you do what you thought worked.
..... a way to stop such behavior would be to learn the bad effects of such discipline and learn better alternatives. --- Knowledge--

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now I know better, I do better"
Maya Angelou