The American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Violence and the Family was convened to bring psychological research and clinical experience to bear on the problem of family violence and to make recommendations for solutions. This report of the Task Force highlights the need for a systematic, multi-faceted, multidisciplinary, and multicultural approach to the problem of family violence. Following an executive summary, Part 1 of the report--"Understanding Family Violence and Its Impact"--lays the groundwork for two central assertions: that violence in the family, like all violence, is learned behavior with far-reaching effects; and that family violence is integrally connected to the intensifying levels of violence in society at large. This section contains four chapters: (1) "What Is Family Violence?"; (2) "The Magnitude of Family Violence"; (3) "Risk and Resiliency Factors"; and (4) "The Effects of Family Violence on Society." Part 2 of the report--"Who Are the Victims of Family Violence?"--focuses on what psychology has to say about the people who are direct victims of violence and abuse. This section contains two chapters: (5) "Adult Victims"; and (6) "Child Victims." Part 3 of the report--"Interventions"-- focuses on ways to identify, stop, mitigate the consequences of, or prevent family violence. This section contains four chapters: (7) "Interventions for Victims and Survivors"; (8) "Intervening Effectively with Perpetrators"; (9) "Family Violence, Psychology, and the Law"; and (10) "Promoting Violence-Free Families." The final section provides 26 recommendations in 5 broad areas: (1) public policy and intervention; (2) prevention and public education; (3) clinical services; (4) training; and (5) psychological research. An afterword about the Task Force in the context of APA violence-related activities and a list of APA public interest projects on violence from 1984-1996 conclude the report. (EV)