Yet another great post for an eye opener @sterlinluxan. I'm not sure you recall my comment months back, about this same type of thing. I grew up in a home where spankings now would have been considered abuse. They were harsh, no matter what the age. I agree that how kids are treated can and will effect their childhood. There were other things going on too, but I grew up learning to not trust anyone. I never let anyone into my heart until my later adult years. My shyness made me an easy target for some, so after a few trusted moments were blown, I did not want to be around anyone.
When I became a parent, I vowed to protect my child from the same thing, but patience would run low, and I spanked him a few times when single digit age. The look on his face one day, was the last time I ever did that. I was completely crushed that I would hurt my own child. I almost turned into the person I so hoped to avoid.
He is now a teen and a great kid, and did not get scarred from what pain I caused him (because I stopped it when I did) .
On the flipside, there are kids who never get spanked, and they are downright monsters. This is where some parents are going to struggle, unfortunately.