ABSTRACT
The theoretical position Strauss and Gelles take is not to ask is the family a violence-prone institution, but how violent, and what are the factors that make for more, rather than less, violent interactions. The family is unique in that it is made up of different ages and sexes, with inherent societal views about gender and age and authority being enacted. The modern family is a private institution, insulated from the eyes, the ears, and often enough the rules of the wider society. The sort of violent incident to a child which would now provoke a search for a scapegoat amongst social workers, is scarcely noted if it occurs between adults. The family is construed as an exclusive organization: birth relationships are the responsibility of birth parents and cannot be terminated—unless violence/breakdown patterns are such that a court deems that the degree of development impairment is too great.
