IN THE STUDIES REVIEWED, FAMILY VIOLENCE INCLUDES AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR BY A FAMILY MEMBER THAT CAUSES THE PHYSICAL INJURY AND/OR EMOTIONAL DEBILITATION OF ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER. ALCOHOL USE/ABUSE IS HYPOTHESIZED TO INFLUENCE FAMILY VIOLENCE BECAUSE IT IS A DRUG THAT AFFECTS THE MOOD AND BEHAVIOR OF THE USER/ABUSER. THE EMPIRICAL STUDIES CONSIDERED TEND TO SHOW THAT FAMILY VIOLENCE (NOTABLY CHILD ABUSE AND WIFE ABUSE) OCCURS AT A GREATER RATE WHEN THERE ARE HEAVY OR MODERATE DRINKERS IN THE FAMILY. WHILE FAMILY VIOLENCE OCCURS WHERE MEMBERS DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL, THESE INCIDENTS ARE INTERPRETED IN TERMS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. ALTHOUGH ALCOHOLISM CAN BE ANALYZED FROM A PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE MISUSE OF ALCOHOL AND THE BEHAVIOR STIMULATED BY IT CAN ALSO BE EXAMINED USING PHYSIOLOGICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES. THE USE/ABUSE OF ALCOHOL THUS IS A SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL FACTOR IN THE NETWORK OF VARIABLES CONTRIBUTING TO FAMILY VIOLENCE. FUTURE RESEARCH SHOULD EXAMINE VARIATIONS IN THE FREQUENCY, INTENSITY, AND CHARACTER OF VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES WHERE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS AND IS NOT ABUSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)