I propose that the emotional, social and coping difficulties of adults who were spanked as children1 have a genetic and environmental cause. These people may have shown behavioural or emotional disturbances early in life and their parent(s), not knowing what else to do, may have resorted to spanking in an attempt to instill acceptable behaviour. Another, more likely, scenario is that the parents themselves had emotional or social problems and they resorted to spanking inappropriately. They may have been incapable of showing the proper love and caring that a child needs to develop a sense of emotional security. A loving and emotionally mature parent who has a "normal" child will not need to resort to ongoing, inappropriate spanking.
Reference
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