First, the discussion addresses the social-historical context for societal attitudes toward and responses to the maltreatment of children and wives. The authors note that violence occurs in all kinds of families, regardless of class, race, ethnicity, or social status; yet why violence occurs in families is still debated. A section on selected theoretical perspectives in family violence focuses on biological and socio- biological models, which pertain to the link between individuals' genetic and physical composition and violent behavior. This section also considers psychological perspectives, social learning theories, and sociological perspectives. Another section of the chapter addresses structural factors that may influence family violence. These include poverty and neglect, witnessing violence, and custodial settings. 46 references