I was just thinking of my own experience as a child. I was smacked by my father only twice that I can remember. Each of those two times, I eminently deserved it. I was smacked by my mother only two or three times that I can remember. Again, as I remember it, I brought those smacks on myself.

I was the eldest of four children. The youngest of us came after a gap and never got smacked. I sometimes think it might have done her a world of good, if she had been now and then. She was brought up much more permissively than we three elder kids were. She was shown much more physical affection too. Plus, she had a lot of attention from us older siblings. I can't see where all of that led to her being any better adjusted. Not at all.