Violence by an adult to a child is just the domination of the weak by the strong - on an individual basis. You're bigger, so you can physically overpower them.

Violence by an adult to a child is just the domination of the weak by the strong - on an individual basis. You're bigger, so you can physically overpower them. The rules bind the child but not the adult - after all if child uses violence to try and get what they want, you'll just respond with more. The violence used by society at large doesn't work that way: no one person can successfully fight off 5 people detaining them. One person with a weapon destroys any physical advantage. No one person can physically overpower civilization, and so hey, this is all about rules, negotiation, and enlightened self interest after all.