ABSTRACT
An important aspect of the pattern of interaction in the family is the amount of conflict between husband and wife. This chapter presents data on several of the factors that have been found to be related to the incidence of child abuse in the two National Family Violence Surveys. One of the clearest findings to emerge from the two National Family Violence Surveys is that violence in one family relationship is related to violence in other family relationships. In addition, low-income areas of American cities have much higher rates of violence outside the family. The measure that pertains to severe violence by the respondent parent toward the referent child included all the items that refer to violence more severe than spanking, pushing, shoving, slapping, and throwing things. Ironically, the learning effect is probably enhanced because, by and large, parental violence is done out of concern for the child and for other morally desirable ends.
