Yes there are cultural differences between different countries and the change to no smacking ever is very new (at least here in Australia). There is a large difference between giving a young child a smack on the bottom in a serious situation and child abuse.<p>On the topic of punishment I have never met anyone who ever experienced the odd smack as a young child to be serious concerned about it when they grew up. I have met many people who were never smacked as children, but who were subjected to terrible emotional abuse by their parents, that have been scarred for life.