Probably there are plenty of homes where spanking is done, and the kids turn out fine. But maybe that is because the parents are caring and attentive, and that overrides the pointless destruction of hitting the kids. We'll never know from studies.

Anecdotally, I was spanked as a kid and turned out splendidly. But is that because of my core strengths, my steely resolve to do good in the world? We can never know.