Beating someone is striking them with the intent to do serious bodily harm. Spanking is the attempt to input the idea in children that there are rules they must obey, and that there are always consequences to their actions when they do not follow those rules. If you imprint that idea on a young mind early enough(not as an infant as someone suggested on this thread) and reinforce the idea as needed, there is then a good chance that that message will remain with the child throughout their life. Children who learn this early enough tend to get in far less trouble and have a better life. I was only spanked a few times that I can remember, but it taught me that there are limits to what you can do in society, and I have never been in trouble, and am not at all warped.