“Surely studies show that parents have little impact on how people turn out?”
If the ‘research’ alleges that whether you behave morally or immorally, it makes no difference, does that make immoral behaviour unobjectionable?
harm
“What is the psychological impact of not taking children seriously?”
Whatever might happen in the future, it will still not have been right to behave immorally today.
“Is the purpose of taking children seriously to avoid the harm coercion would do?”
Even if childhood coercion has virtually no effect, it would not change what it is right or wrong to do to people. And it is not right to do things to people that will impair the growth of knowledge.
Fearing the influence of violent video games?
Parents sometimes confuse reality with fantasy, and then coerce their children accordingly.
Punishment as a teaching tool
Punishment has a very high risk of destroying not only the desire, but also the ability to learn.
Defining “coercion”, “coercive”, “coerce”
Definitions of words commonly-used on the Taking Children Seriously site: “coercion”, “coercive” and “coerce”.