RESEARCHERS HAVE ATTRIBUTED THE RISE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE TO SUCH DIVERSE FACTORS AS VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION, INCREASING PATHOLOGIES WITHIN THE FAMILY, AND INCREASED PRESSURES FROM THE SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT. HISTORICALLY, FATHERS OFTEN HAD THE POWER OF LIFE OR DEATH OVER WIVES AND CHILDREN, AND THE BEATING OF CHILDREN HAS LONG BEEN AN ACCEPTED FORM OF CORRECTION. VARIOUS STUDIES OF VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES HAVE FOUND THAT VIOLENCE IS THE OUTGROWTH OF A TOTAL FAMILY PATHOLOGY IN WHICH SPOUSES AND CHILDREN HAVE WELL-DEFINED ROLES. MOREOVER, EVIDENCE REVEALS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES OFTEN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. SPECIFIC FINDINGS FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDIES ARE CITED, COVERING SPOUSE ABUSE, FILICIDE, AND CHILD ABUSE. MEDICALLY, A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS PREDISPOSE PERSONS TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR: DAMAGE OF BRAIN FUNCTION, THE TOXIC STATES PRECIPITATED BY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, AND SOME HORMONAL OR NEUROLOGICAL IMBALANCES. SOME FORMS OF VIOLENCE ARE TOLERATED, SUCH AS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF A CHILD, WHILE OTHERS ARE OFTEN IGNORED, SUCH AS INCEST. LEGALLY, CRIMES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE ENTER THE COURT SYSTEM WHEN THEY BECOME SERIOUS. SOCIALLY, FAMILY VIOLENCE IS THE CONCERN OF A VARIETY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS THROUGH VARIOUS INTERVENTION AGENCIES. TO BE COMBATTED EFFECTIVELY, FAMILY VIOLENCE MUST BE THE CONCERN OF ALL THESE SPECIALISTS. COMPLETE CITATIONS ARE APPENDED FOR THE STUDIES DISCUSSED. (GLR)