My house had two schools of thought. My mom didn't whoop us unless it was something extreme, and she didn't like it. Most of our punishment centered around some type of privilege being taken away for some length of time. It's not a very effective strategy to discipline a 10 year old, because 10 year olds are easily entertained. I could have fun doing anything. One time I was "forced" to read two books. My mother was an educator so we always had to do some type of reading anyway. I read two books in a few hours, I enjoyed it. It helped instill some type of order, and idea of consequence. I got it, but I didn't really "get it...."
Until my pops got home. My pops, while I was growing up, was a shop owner and a steel worker. Always gone to work, and pretty busy in general. Definitely a no-nonsense type of dude. He's chilled out a lot now that we're all older. We spent insane amounts of time in his shop, working. His way of discipline was with a heavy hand. Swift and strong. No nonsense. The belt came out with the quickness. I've had to get my own switches, etc. I wouldn't say we were abused because we usually deserved the shyt we got whooped for. But it gave me more of an understanding of consequence. You can do whatever you want, but there will be consequences, and they hurt.
Growing up in the 80's and 90's in Gary, I think those whoopings might have been key in keeping me out of a lot of trouble. As a kid/teen I never got into any real trouble, I was always respectful to authority, etc. I didn't grow up thinking I was getting whoopins because they hated me or none of that. I think the balance of physical and non physical punishment gave me a better outlook on the world and how it works.