ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several common factors present in families that have experienced violence. It explains what acts or conducts are considered to constitute family violence. The chapter discusses the consequences of family violence and examines the mandatory reporting laws on child abuse. It reviews the extent of family violence in society and discusses the widely used intervention strategies used in dealing with family violence. The study of family violence as a discipline is still in its infancy. In US society, numerous myths and misconceptions are present when examining family violence issues and prevention techniques. Family violence has several distinct subgroupings, such as child physical and sexual abuse, intimate partner abuse, and elder abuse. The psychological approach, the social-psychological approach, and the sociocultural approach are but a few of the more popular models or theories of family violence. The conflict tactics scale is the most widely used instrument in conducting research on family violence.
