Spanking absolutely causes misbehavior.
It destroys the relationship between the child and parent.
It fills the child with fear and rage.
An angry, mistrustful child is a child who will misbehave.
I despise people who spank their children. They often get what they deserve from their children.
Broad-brush much? As several posters (including yourself) have pointed out, there are all sorts of “spankings”, with all sorts of attitudes and motives involved. A single corrective swat on the fundament is not the same as a savage beating given in anger, nor will the two produce the same effect on the child.
Spanking is an essential tool (among others) to raising good kids, and if done right is hardly ever needed after the age of about 6. Oh, and by the way my kids (4 of them) love me to death and take every opportunity to love on me, kiss and cuddle with me.
I get unsolicited comments from total strangers all the time on how well behaved my children are. A child properly disciplined when young will hardly ever need to be spanked beyond the age of about 6-7 (they threat alone will suffice).
I have had several relatives with older children try to get me to take in their teenage delinquents and I wanted nothing to do with that idea. It's too late by then! If they don't understand right and wrong, discipline and punishment by about 7-8 your screwed.
Were you spanked?