ALL BUT ONE OF THE PAPERS INCLUDED WERE PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES AT MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY, ENGLAND, IN 1974 AND 1975. THE PAPERS GIVE A PICTURE OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS AND AIMS OF SOME OF THE PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO DEAL WITH THE PHENOMENON OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VIOLENCE DIRECTED TOWARD CHILDREN AND THAT DIRECTED TOWARD WOMEN AND VARYING APPROCHES TO EACH PROBLEM ARE SHOWN THROUGHOUT. A PSYCHIATRIST EXPLAINS WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO VENT THEIR AGGRESSION ON THOSE NEAREST TO THEM AND WHY. FACTORS SUCH AS DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCIDENCE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF ABUSE ARE EXAMINED. A SOCIOLOGIST REVIEWS SOCIETAL CONCEPTIONS OF VIOLENCE. A PEDIATRICIAN IDENTIFIES TYPICAL INJURIES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH MAY INDICATE THAT A CHILD HAS BEEN ABUSED. AN OFFICIAL OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WAY IT APPROACHES THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE. A LAWYER EXAMINES THE PROTECTION AVAILABLE AND REMEDIES OPEN TO CHILDREN AND SPOUSES WHO ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. A PSYCHOLOGIST FOCUSES ON THE PROBLEMS OF BATTERED WIVES -- THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, THE SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS OF BATTERED WOMEN, EFFECTS ON THEIR CHILDREN, THE WOMAN'S LEGAL POSITION, THE ATTITUDES OF SOCIETY, AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE WOMEN. A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DESCRIBES THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FINALLY, A SOCIAL WORKER EXAMINES THE OBSTACLES TO BETTER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (VDA)