The child abuse allegations brought against Adrian Peterson are rebooting national debate on whether corporal punishment is an effective method of discipline. Many adults agree with Peterson, who said he disciplined his child the way he was — and it worked on him. But many of those same adults draw a moral line between striking a misbehaving child with an object versus an open palm to the backside. Most experts call such physical punishment ineffective. People who were spanked might continue the cycle because they believe a firm hand makes a better child, and because that's how they were raised.
