DATA FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES ARE EXAMINED: (1) A SURVEY OF ALL 13,000 INCIDENTS OF ABUSE REPORTED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1967 AND 1968; (2) CASE STUDIES OF 1,400 INCIDENTS REPORTED IN 1967 IN A SAMPLE OF 39 CITIES AND COUNTIES; (3) INTERVIEWS IN 1965 WITH A RANDOM, NATIONAL SAMPLE OF 1,520 ADULTS; AND (4) A 6-MONTH SURVEY OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES PUBLISHED IN 1965. FINDINGS ARE REPORTED ON THE SCOPE OF ABUSE, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, ABUSE INCIDENTS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THEM, AND OFFICIAL ACTIONS FOLLOWING ABUSE. FOURTEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABUSE ARE IDENTIFIED. THESE ARE REDUCED TO THE FOLLOWING UNDERLYING FACTORS: PSYCHOLOGICAL REJECTION, ANGRY AND UNCONTROLLED DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE, MALE BABYSITTER ABUSE, PERSONALITY DEVIANCE AND REALITY STRESS, CHILD-ORIGINATED ABUSE, FEMALE BABYSITTER ABUSE, AND CARETAKER QUARRELS. A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF ABUSE IS DEVELOPED WHICH COMPRISES SEVERAL ELEMENTS: CULTURALLY SANCTIONED USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE IN CHILD REARING; DIFFERENCES IN CHILD-REARING PATTERNS AMONG SOCIAL STRATA AND ETHNIC GROUPS; DEVIANCE AND PATHOLOGY IN THE BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES; AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANCE EVENTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE GREATEST REDUCTION IN VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL PROHIBITIONS AND LEGAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE IN CHILD REARING. ANOTHER STEP ESSENTIAL TO COMBATING CHILD ABUSE IS THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY. SECONDARY AND TERTIARY MEASURES INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS, THE REPEAL OF ABORTION LAWS, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND COUNSELING, NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE GEARED TOWARD HEALTH MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS TREATMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS IN FAMILY LIFE (ESPECIALLY FOR MOTHERS), AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH SEVERE PROBLEMS. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)