I'm not associating it fully, of course smart parenting still did its best. My parents are the best! But if we didn't get the threat of smacking, I don't think we'll be scared enough of my parents and their authority. My nephew (the 4 yr old one), whenever his parents tell him "I will smack you in the hand" when he acts inappropriately just laughs it off and always thinks no matter what he does is fine. He never gets the smacking though.