AFTER POINTING OUT THAT BEFORE 1960 FAMILY VIOLENCE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHAPTER IN A SOCIOLOGY TEXTBOOK, THE EXPLOSION OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD IS SURVEYED WITH CHARTS AND GRAPHS PRESENTING DATA FROM VARIOUS STUDIES. EARLY WRITERS USED A MEDICAL MODEL TO ANALYZE CHILD ABUSE, THE FIRST FORM OF VIOLENCE TO RECEIVE ATTENTION. THEY LOOKED FOR A 'PERSONALITY TYPE' RESPONSIBLE, AND DID NOT FIND ONE BECAUSE VIOLENCE IS SO ACCEPTED IN CERTAIN FAMILIES THAT IT IS SEEN AS 'NORMAL.' SOCIOLOGY HAS MADE IMPORTANT THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE SOCIOLOGISTS DO NOT WAIT FOR CASES TO COME INTO THE OFFICE. INSTEAD, THEY DESIGN LARGE SCALE RANDOM STUDIES OF VARIOUS POPULATIONS TO INVESTIGATE THE PHENOMENON. THESE STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT SUBCULTURES WHICH HAVE A HIGH TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE HAVE MORE VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY, THAT IT IS MORE COMMON WHEN POWER IS CONCENTRATED IN THE HANDS OF ONE SPOUSE, THAT WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO ABUSE CHILDREN THAN MEN, THAT YOUNGER FAMILIES ARE MORE VIOLENCE-PRONE, AND THAT WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES HAVE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE. REASONS WHY ABUSED WOMEN STAY WITH THEIR HUSBANDS AND WHY NEIGHBORS DO NOT REPORT CHILD ABUSE ARE REVIEWED. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE EDUCATION FOR THE POPULATION IN GENERAL, DAY-CARE CENTERS TO ENABLE YOUNG MOTHERS TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR CHILDREN, CHANGES IN THE LAW TO MAKE FAMILY ABUSE EASIER TO PROSECUTE, AND TRAINING FOR POLICE. THE PROBLEM IS SEEN CONTINUING UNTIL THE END OF THE CENTURY. (GLR)