IT HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE STATISTICALLY TRUE THAT MOST ADULTS WHO ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN HAD NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BEEN BATTERED BY THEIR FATHERS, BUT HAD ALSO WITNESSED THEIR SIBLINGS AND MOTHERS BEING BATTERED. IT APPEARS THAT CHILDREN WHO WITNESS VIOLENCE IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES END UP BEING ABUSIVE ADULTS. LIFE PATTERNS OF AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE WHICH REPEAT THEMSELVES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOLLOWING PSYCHOLOGICALLY STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO CHILD AND WIFE ABUSE: UNEMPLOYMENT OF THE HUSBAND; AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY; A CHILD CONCEIVED OUT OF WEDLOCK; AND MARRIAGE PARTNERS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS FAITHS. EIGHT CONDITIONS OF POOR CHILD CARE, AS ENUMERATED BY THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CHILD ABUSE, ARE PHYSICAL NEGLECT, MORAL NEGLECT, EMOTIONAL NEGLECT, MEDICAL NEGLECT, EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT, PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND COMMUNITY NEGLECT. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT INTRAFAMILIAL VIOLENCE CANNOT BE ERADICATED BY GOOD POLICE WORK, GOOD PSYCHOTHERAPY, OR EVEN GOOD LEGAL ASSISTANCE; IT IS THE PATRIARCHAL NATURE OF THE NUCLEAR FAMILY WHICH GUARANTEES THAT VIOLENCE WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE MORE OPPRESSED AND LESS LEGALLY PROTECTED FAMILY MEMBERS -- WOMEN AND CHILDREN. A LIST OF INDICATORS OF A CHILD'S NEED FOR PROTECTION, COMPILED BY THE CHILDREN'S DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION AND DIRECTED TOWARD TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, NURSES, AND COUNSELORS, IS REPRODUCED, AND MAJOR WORKS ON CHILD ABUSE ARE DESCRIBED. SUGGESTIONS FROM A HUMAN DEVELOPMENT POINT OF VIEW FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED CHILDREN AND BATTERED WIVES INCLUDE INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN HEAD START PRESCHOOL CENTERS AND DAY-CARE CENTERS, PARENT-ORIENTED WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COURSES, PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EDUCATION COURSES, AND SEX EDUCATION COURSES. REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED. (DAS)