The problem is it can be difficult to know where to draw the line between correcting and abuse. The minimium amount of punishment required to effect the required positive change. Anything over that and you are tending toward abuse. My father didn't know where the line was so as a result I overcompensate and under punish. It's really difficult trying to raise children especially when you have a culture that rewards stupidity and punishes the conservative family values that you want your children to learn. I've been working at this for 10 years, I may figure it out in the next 10.
But I will say this my children are not little punks running around doing whatever they wish and hurting people. So it must be working.