The studies reviewed focused on child abuse breeding child abuse; violent or homicidal offenders in clinical settings; child abuse and neglect and delinquency, violent behavior, and aggressive behavior in young children; patients undergoing clinical evaluation; child abuse, withdrawal, and self-destructive behavior; observations of parental violence; and viewing of television violence. Possible pathways by which the intergenerational transmission of violence might occur include the immediate consequences of violence with respect to social performance and behavior, resultant changes in family environment that may predispose the individual to violent behavior, bodily alterations induced by the violence that results in later violent activity, and changed behavioral patterns. Future research based on sound design strategies will be required to assess the validity of these hypotheses and facilitate the search for personal and social factors that protect persons from the intergenerational transmission of violence. 2 tables, 8 notes, 180 references.