The family, basic societal building block and institution of learning of moral values and behavioral codes, has become a breeding ground for major psychiatric disturbances and future criminality for some children. Knowledge of the warning signals in a potentially violent family could facilitate preventive measures and assist in helping victims. This paper reviews most of the major international psychiatric literature on family violence and its impact on children. The effect of family violence on the development of psychiatric disorders and intergenerational transmission of violent are evaluated. Theoretical perspectives, including psychiatric, psychodynamic, and social learning theories in the etiopathogenesis of intrafamilial violence are examined, and directions for future research are recommended. (Author abstract modified)