The highest frequency of violent crimes in families was found in victim-offender relationships that were intimate and personal. Usually the victim and offender had experienced a long period of strained relations in which they had attempted to adjust to one another but without success. The killing usually occurred when a particular interaction fueled extreme anger. Extramarital relations, sexual promiscuity, faithlessness, or sexual perversion were some of the causes of conflict in victim-offender relationships. Other reasons for domestic conflict included money shortages, disagreements over how to spend money, drinking or gambling, and maladjusted mother-son relationships. Property disputes between brothers often contributed to violence, and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts resulted in violence. Overall, family structure that does not permit escape from unresolved intense family conflict places the involved family members at high risk of being the perpetrator or victim of violence. 1 table and 3-item bibliography