ABSTRACT

The National Family Violence Surveys suggest that the family is the most violent institution, group, or setting that a typical citizen is likely to encounter. Assault was measured by the severe violence index of the family Conflict Tactics Scales. Physical punishment provides the society's basic training in violence but, of course, training that applies most directly to behavior in the family. At least some use of physical punishment is just about universal in American society, typically beginning in infancy. The chapter examines one of the several factors that contribute to the explanation: the link between stress and violence. The last set of mediating factors included in the chapter explores the theory that violence will be higher in the absence of a network of personal ties. The usual formulation of that theory assumes that the network will be pro social. That is usually a reasonable assumption. However, a social network can also support antisocial behavior.