It's all they know how to do. But just because something is familiar doesn't mean it's right, or effective.
Punishment reinforces a failure identity.
It reinforces rebellion, resistance, revenge and resentment. And, what people who spank children will learn is that it teaches more about you than it does about them that the whole goal is to crush the child. It's not dignified, and it's not respectful. Children who have been spanked are more likely to have developmental or social problems, Glenn said. They'll either be dominated by more aggressive people in their environment and be very disrespectful of the people they get power over, or be horribly vulnerable when you're not there to sort out their lives.