Athens' theory of "violentization" stems from a series of interviews with 58 inmates in 5 penal institutions in 2 U.S. States during the early 1970's. Approximately half of the inmates had been convicted of homicide, with the remainder serving time for rape or aggravated assault. All but 11 of the inmates were males. The prison interviews were supplemented by accounts of violence that Athens himself had witnessed, primarily during his own childhood and adolescence. These included a murder, an attempted rape, and a man being stabbed in the eyes with a can opener. Athens views violent behavior as a developmental process that includes four stages: brutalization, defiance, dominance engagement, and virulency. Brutalization has three elements: violent subjugation, personal "horrification," and violent coaching. Defiance occurs as the victim resolves never to let himself/herself be subjugated or abused again. Dominance engagement occurs as those who have resolved defiance inflict "grievous injuries" on people they perceive as potential abusers. "Virulency" occurs as the person gains a reputation for violence, people become submissive under his intimidation, and he makes a firm resolution to attack or kill if provoked. The theory outlined by Athens purports to account for every person who becomes violent. This article argues, however, that there are other pathways to violence, and not all of those who commit serious acts of violence have undergone Athen's four stages of "violentization." Although acknowledging that Athen's theory may apply to the etiology of some violent behavioral patterns, this article identifies significant manifestations of violence that may arise from other pathways. Other pathways are discussed for the following types of violence: hand-to-hand combat in modern warfare, the bureaucratic underpinnings of genocide, religious fanaticism, dueling, sado-masochism, and selective infanticide. 88 references