A specific act, such as wife battering, is not always the basis of the classification. Instead, the dynamics and cause of the act are primary. Spouse abuse may result from psychotic delusions or from an explosive incident similar to others that occur in other situations. Violence associated with psychiatric conditions occurs most often in the organic, toxic, and paranoid states. Alcohol is the most common substance associated with violence. Pathological jealousy sometimes is related to wife battering. Episodic dyscontrol syndromes cover a spectrum ranging from situations in which organic factors play a causative role to situations in which psychodynamic factors predominate. Domestic violence which does not fit either the primary psychiatric category or the episodic dyscontrol category is generally due, in large measure, to stress. Rapid social change and strained economic conditions for increasing numbers of people all provide for extreme environmental stress. The first step in treating violent individuals should be to classify the person into one of the three categories. Chemotherapy, neurological evaluation and treatment, or treatment for toxicity are indicated for patients with primary psychiatric conditions causing violence. Individual psychotherapy of a psychodynamic orientation is most effective for the episodic dyscontrol syndrome. In cases of domestic violence, family therapy, marital therapy, and group therapy are recommended for batterers and victims. A figure is included. Fifty-four references are listed.