This paper explores various international and national research and theory that suggests the disciplining of children with physical punishment is detrimental. The theoretical framework for discipline and punishment is discussed through such theories as socio-cultural theory, social learning theory, and ecological theory. The author provides a summary of the evidence of the effects of physical discipline on children. Five areas of the long-term effects of physical punishment are discussed: social behaviour, cognitive effects, quality of parent-child relationships, mental health, and moral internalisation. This paper also looks at the some of the work to change parental disciplinary practices. The paper concludes that there is little evidence to support the physical punishment of children as a means of discipline. The author suggests that, although compliance is the desired goal behind disciplining children, alternative disciplinary methods may prove to be more positive for long-term outcomes than physical punishment.