DATA INDICATE THAT A PERSON IS IN GREATER RISK OF SUFFERING VIOLENCE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS THAN ON THE STREET FROM A STRANGER. VIOLENCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY PRESENT IN ALL TYPES OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, BETWEEN SPOUSES, BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN, BETWEEN SIBLINGS, AND BETWEEN ADULT CHILDREN AND THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY SPAWNS GENERALLY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN THE LARGER SOCIETY. SAMPLES OF VIOLENT CRIMINAL OFFENDERS HAVE EVIDENCED A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF VIOLENT FAMILY BACKGROUNDS AS CHILDREN. THE PROBLEM DEMANDS BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM REMEDIAL AND PREVENTIVE STEPS. SHORT-TERM SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND ABUSED CHILDREN ARE NEEDED. LAWS SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE TEMPORARY CONFINEMENT OF ABUSING SPOUSES AND PARENTS TO ALLOW FOR A SAFE TIME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN OF CARE FOR VICTIMS. ABORTION AND BIRTH CONTROL SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS AT HIGH RISK OF CHILD ABUSE. STUDIES HAVE INDICATED THAT ABUSING PARENTS AND BATTERED WIVES ARE DEBILITATED BY LOW SELF-ESTEEM, A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED THROUGH COUNSELING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. FURTHER, WOMEN SHOULD BE SOCIALIZED TO BE INDEPENDENT, SO THAT STAYING IN OR LEAVING A MARRIAGE IS BY CHOICE. THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS NEGLECTED INSTRUCTION IN MARRIAGE AND PARENTING. THE SUBJECTS CAN BE INCORPORATED EASILY INTO EXISTING COURSES. THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF AMERICAN SOCIETY ARE CALLED INTO QUESTION BY THE PERVASIVENESS OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AS A MEANS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AND REACTING TO FRUSTRATION. SOCIALIZING INSTITUTIONS SHOULD DEEMPHASIZE THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE IN CONTROLLING THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)