--Understood, but not bloody likely.--
Very likely. The parent that is angry and out of control is VERY likely to abuse the kid. The kid should know that he is being punished for what he did, not because the parent is angry.
And it's OK to think someone is insane because they're hitting you despite not being angry?
Not very likely. Sorry. Not everyone who has EVER used physical discipline (and it has HUGE precedent, unlike "time out") has been "abusive", but you can bet many were "angry".