The NFHS of 3,300 children and 6,000 couples shows that over 90 percent of American parents resort to physical punishment to correct misbehavior. These results support the hypothesis that although physical punishment may produce conformity in the short term, in the long run, it tends to increase the probability of deviance including delinquency in adolescence and violent crimes in adulthood. Although this empirical analyses used cross sectional data, it did provide support for the theory as well as preliminary evidence to indicate a need for experimental, longitudinal, cross cultural, and historical research for an adequate testing of this theory. If experimental research supports the theory, then important implications emerge for both the individual and society. Parents who do not use physical punishment in raising children will have better behaved children and society will experience a minimum of crime and violence use. 5 notes, 12 figures, and 55 references (Author astract modified)