I think that generally, because of newer harsher laws, physical violence is starting to die down in some places --- But I've had my share of bruises when I was younger. Not from being punched nessecarily, but the smacks I got were fairly hard. I was a good kid, but I had my bratty years...
Unfortunatly, I feel that what I had to suffer from (just spankings, things that alot of children go through when they are bad), has caused me to be hostile enough to almost - almost - hit one of my pets when I am angry at them. Of course at that point, I must be angry enough to feel like doing that, and it always makes me cry afterwards. Then I can sit there and wonder -- Did my mother ever cry after she hit me?
I remember being young, and constantly purposely hurting my friends, and when it was over, my mother would hurt me. Where is the discipline in that? I was terrible to my friends....
One time, when I was four, my best friend wouldn't let me on the swingset. So I took her over to the post that held up the roof to our carport. It had long nails pointing out both ways. I grabbed her by the hair and smashed her head against the nails several times. When it was over, there was blood everywhere, and my mother smacked me several times on my bottom. I didn't even cry. Not only that, I was in denial, saying that I didn't do it, that her brother did it, he should be punished.
This was what physical violence taught me. I never got over it. But I'm extremely glad that I didn't end up like my neighbor who had her mouth washed out with soup almost everyday. Parents are capable of harsh punishments...It's something in society that is all too common.