Spankings held a place in traditional cultures where they understood the role of spanking in a parent-child interaction. We are transformed by tears and transformation builds resiliency because we learn we can live without. The spanking was a quick way to bring a child to tears but those tears were always shed in the presence of the parent. We have lost our wisdom about spanking and use the same word to describe beatings, abuse, or any other hitting done in anger. As a society, we can no longer allow adults to hit children. On the other hand, it is much less psychologically damaging than time-outs, which are absolutely barbaric. Imagine how you would feel if your spouse or best friend used time-outs on you to make you comply.