This. If parents expect their kids to obey for fear of punishment, they’re teaching the lesson that you obey people who are stronger than you. Out in the real

This. If parents expect their kids to obey for fear of punishment, they’re teaching the lesson that you obey people who are stronger than you. Out in the real world, when someone tells you to obey because they are stronger, you tell them to stuff it. It is widely agreed that in society, people need better reasons to be obeyed than that (even if the strong do tend to get their way more often...). I think what you said about understanding future actions and disconnecting them from punishment is spot on.