I doN,t know if there is any less discipline because I can't compare it but I tend to I agree with playfelt. I find that if we read just a bit about child development EVERYTHING our parents did was wrong... well according to the professional. I was spanked, forced to finish my plate, rewarded with cookies, told NOT to act like a baby, sent to my room. But if you read anything all that was not good to do... Turned out fine by the way. So they tell us HOW BAD it is for the child so maybe yes parents are AFRAID to discipline because it causes harm to their child. Plus it feels like everyone is watching and judging, so maybe it is intimidating to discipline a child in public, better do nothing. Whatever is written in a magasine on how to do is not SHOWN in real life to the parents so we really do not know how to apply it and have they been in my house ? How do they know WHY my child is acting up and if I can't apply what I have learned from my parents and I don't know how to apply what I've seen in a magazine ... what will I do ?