I noticed countless times at the meetings and conventions that single mothers frequently gave children the worst beatings. I believe that single mothers are under enormous pressure to not only raise children on their own, but they get very little help; if any from anyone at the conventions
I was a single mother, and I can tell you, that I NEVER gave my daughter a beating. EVER!! You may have witnessed other single mom's doing this, but it was not I.... I raised my child alone until she was six, and while it was a bit on the difficult side, I did it on my own, with no help from anyone in the congregation, and I was not an angry nor bitter mom. Assemblies were a bit tough, but it was something I had to do....and did it...I just spent more time in the mother's room..
The worst beating I ever witnessed, was from a father, who needed the elders to intervene and take the child away....it was during a Sunday meeting, and the entire congregation just cried...it was Horrific!!! That little girl suffered terribly until her mother finally got the courage to leave...
I think it has to do with each person individually, and how much self control they (Don't) have....