Subabusive violence is defined here as the lowest segment of the violence continuum that many people may consider to be appropriate disciplinary procedure, including spanking, hitting, and whipping. While these types of violence may seem to have little or no detrimental effects on children, the author points to five reasons why such behavior should be studied: the pervasiveness of subabusive violence, the questionable natural protectiveness of human parenting, the possibility that subabusive violence may lead to blatant abuse, the message that children learn from subabusive violence in terms of their own interpersonal relations, and humanitarian concerns for the welfare of children. 16 references