It sounds to me like a case of severe child abuse which, in my country, is an imprisonable offence. If I ever heard of any parent doing that to their child I would be onto Social Services and the police like a rocket.
I have heard of such brutality, at first hand among my peer group, and recounted by sufferers on places such as LGBT discussion forums where young people were subjected to violence by parents or guardians in the mistaken belief that it was "teaching them a lesson", or "toughening them up for life". And in some cases, as a means of correction when the individual came out as being gay.
You cannot beat homosexuality out of somebody just as much as you can't beat good behaviour into them.
If the survivor eventually grows up to be a good, productive, well balanced person as an adult then it is more likely to be in spite of what happened to them rather than because of it.
And often, the survivor grows up with a firm resolve never to adopt those behaviours towards their own children because they don't want to become the parent that they suffered. An attitude of "I'm not going to be like him. I'm going to be better than that."
It is the rejection of what they endured as children that makes them better adults.
I note from your siggy that you say: Conflict is a vital part of our being. It makes us strong, reinforces our beliefs and gives us the power to destroy whatever tries to break our spirit.
I reject that argument. As I've already stated, the child becomes the better adult in SPITE of conflict, not because of it. They would probably have grown up to be good people if they hadn't been beaten. The only thing beating reinforces is a deeper determination to the good nature that was already there.
Where a young person is faced with adversity, the strength to overcome it can come from within..... from an ability to rationalise. It can come from education.... by listening to the words of the wise. It can come from inspiration.... the example of those who have gone before who suffered and overcame by their own efforts.
Violence is destructive and by rejecting it, we overcome it. That is the true meaning of "What does not destroy you makes you stronger".