My background:I'm a somewhat spoiled senior in high school who deals with middle schoolers frequently as senior patrol leader in his scout troop. Having been that spoiled awkward kid, I think I have a decent idea of how to be the brat.
I've turned out all right, so far, though.

This is an interesting question. My nuclear family hasn't been particularly affectionate towards one another for a number of years; however, when I was young, we loved each other very much. I received on occasion what I would call tough love, serious lectures or shouting fits from one parent or the other. It takes a lot (and did) of disrespect for my parents to ever touch me. I think that's the way to go: serious lectures, occasional tough love, but never beating.

Our extended-substitute-teacher for English said that he believes parents are more interested today in children having happy childhoods than teaching them to be good people. I'm inclined to agree, which is why there seems to be a lack of discipline in many of the "little monsters" found today all around. I believe in teaching moral standards while allowing children to be themselves, but never forgetting what they get taught. Even if it means being harsh, better to raise good children than brats who look on their happy childhood with nostalgia and fail to move on.