Good memory! Yes, he is half Tongan. No, it is not cultural. His mother was ostracized in her own neighborhood because she was abusive even by their standards. But yes, they do allow for much more physical punishment in general.

He grew up in a home where the police were (and still are) called on the regular because his mother (Tongan) and father (American) are both violent. He knows it's wrong that his dad strangles his 24 year old sister, and she calls him for help, or his mom slaps him around, but somehow doesn't see his own behavior as following in their footsteps - even if to a lesser extent. Hopefully the abusive behavior ends with him as my daughter has a firm stance against any sort of corporal punishment or even too rough rough-housing.

He's been attending individual counseling as well as anger management, which definitely helps, but only when he's actively in the classes (I think this is his second or third time through anger management). Hopefully one of these times it'll stick.