THE TYPICAL VIEW OF THE AMERICAN HOME AS A PLACE OF AFFECTION AND CALM IS INACCURATE WHEN CONTRASTED WITH THE ESTIMATE OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION THAT 10,000 CHILDREN ARE BEATEN BY THEIR PARENTS EACH YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER 100,000 CHILDREN ARE SEVERELY NEGLECTED, AND OVER 200,000 INCIDENTS OF WIFE BEATING OCCUR EACH YEAR. FAMILY VIOLENCE IS A LARGE, PERVASIVE PROBLEM AFFECTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND IS THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF CRIME IN AMERICA. MOST PEOPLE WHO COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE, HOWEVER, ARE NEITHER INSANE NOR CRIMINALLY MOTIVATED; INSTEAD, THEY APPEAR TO BE QUITE NORMAL. A MAJOR CAUSE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS THE APPARENT PERMISSION GIVEN BY SOCIETY TO LOW LEVELS OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS, USUALLY IN THE GUISE 'DISCIPLINE.' THE LEVEL OF CONCERN AND THE FACTORS WHICH MAKE FAMILY LIFE INTIMATE CAN ALSO MAKE IT VIOLENT. ANY INTENSE INVOLVEMENT CAN LEAD TO CONFLICT, BUT WHEN THIS CONFLICT IS NOT RESOLVED THROUGH COMPROMISE, IT MAY BECOME VIOLENT. THE VIOLENCE IS NOT INEVITABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED HEALTHY; RATHER IT SHOULD BE PREVENTED THROUGH NEGOTIATION OF PERSONAL CONFLICTS. ALTHOUGH NEIGHBORS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO INTERFERE WITH FAMILY PROBLEMS, THE VIOLENCE WITHIN FAMILIES MAY LEAD TO CRIME OUTSIDE. (TWK)