A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR CAN BE GAINED FROM A STUDY OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY, BECAUSE THE FAMILY IS THE PREEMINENT ARENA AND TEACHER OF VIOLENCE, IS A CONVENIENT UNIT FOR RESEARCH, AND A STUDY OF CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY LENDS ITSELF TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES THAT APPLY TO ALL VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. VIOLENCE CAN BE DEFINED AS AN ACT IN WHICH THE INTENTION OR PERCEIVED INTENTION IS TO CAUSE PHYSICAL PAIN OR INJURY. CULTURAL NORMS PROVIDE CONDITIONED PERCEPTIONS OF WHEN IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO BEHAVE VIOLENTLY. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IN THE AMERICAN SOCIETY THERE ARE MORE NORMS PERMITTING VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY THAN OUTSIDE THE FAMILY. APPROXIMATELY ONE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS BELIEVE THERE ARE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO HIT ONE'S SPOUSE. VIOLENCE BETWEEN SIBLINGS IS ALSO ACCEPTED MORE READILY THAN IT IS IN INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS OUTSIDE THE FAMILY. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION--THE PATTERN OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS--IS ALSO A FACTOR IN PRECIPITATING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. UNIQUE FACTORS OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN THE FAMILY MAKE IT MORE LIABLE TO VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF AGE AND SEX DIFFERENCES WITH ATTENDANT DIVERGENCE OF NEEDS, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERESTS; INTENSITY OF INVOLVEMENT AND EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY VIS-A-VIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS; AND HEIGHTENED ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE WHOSE ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES ARE A DAILY PART OF ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI. ODYSSEY HOUSE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, A HOME FOR TROUBLED TEENAGERS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SOCIAL FACTORS CHARACTERISTIC OF THOSE OPERATIVES IN A FAMILY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED TO WORK AGAINST VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THE STAFF REGULARLY IMPRESSES UPON RESIDENTS THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT PERMISSIBLE OR ACCEPTED IN THE HOME, AND RATIONAL, NONVIOLENT WAYS OF DEALING WITH GROUP AND INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS ARE TAUGHT AND EXERCISED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)