This chapter discusses two factors that have been linked to family violence: lack of empathy and alcohol or drug use. Empathy has been examined by sociobiologists, geneticists, and others interested in exploring biological contributions to behavior. While the evidence for a biological contribution to empathy is strong, some theorists such as N. Feshbach see roots of empathy in the environment in which the person develops. The study of empathy provides a good example of both biological and social determinants of aggression. Alcohol and drug use have been implicated in a variety of violent crimes, including assault and homicide. Expectations about the disinhibiting effects of alcohol may even affect victims of violence. The chapter shows examples of how both biological and social explanations can be used to understand violence in the family. It argues that the relationship between empathy and violence has been studied from sociobiological, genetic, physiological, social learning, and attachment perspectives.