I think it needs to be handled on a case by case basis of kid by kid as it may be. I can tell you right now that taking things away or sending me to my room did nothing to deter me. In fact, I enjoyed the time alone and away from the world as much as I still enjoy it. I cannot tell you a single reason why I was sent to my room and I probably repeated those same mistakes time and time again. I can tell you why I got swatted and I usually didn't repeat those. I can also tell you things friends did just prior to them getting swatted in front of me. Now if you look at my girlfriend, all her dad had to do was express his disappointment in her and her actions and she was so upset that it never crossed her mind to do it again. Two very different people require two very different forms of punishment/correction. You have to know your child and you have to know what works for them.