Those of us who take this issue seriously read the studies and sometimes do the studies to try and work out, free of bias, free of ideology, free of rose coloured glasses, or dragging through the mud, trying to work out what the evidence tells us. And when it comes to corporal punishment, there is evidence that when it is misused, it does real harm. But when it is used appropriately and carefully, it does have a role to play.

That matches my own experiences, personally. I think it’s right. But my views aren’t just based on my own experiences. They are based on years of studying the issue for the perspective of a psychologist as well. There’s no absolute right, crystal clear, answer to virtually any issue in psychology. It would be nice if there was.