As a parent of a difficult child, this is not at all surprising.
What little evidenced-based parenting advice is out there[1] suggests the same thing: taken individually, immediate minor punishments are as effective as major punishments. The big advantage comes with the fact that the parent can be more consistent as minor punishments are typically less work than large ones. Consistent annoyances are better at provoking change than occasional calamity.
1: If you thought the story for evidence-based medicine was bad, just skim through the parenting books at a book store.
What little evidenced-based parenting advice is out there[1] suggests the same thing: taken individually, immediate minor punishments are as effective as major punishments. The big advantage comes with the fact that the parent can be more consistent as minor punishments are typically less work than large ones. Consistent annoyances are better at provoking change than occasional calamity.
1: If you thought the story for evidence-based medicine was bad, just skim through the parenting books at a book store.