View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

[51]
Goode (1982 : 10) states that violence is used to achieve desired ends, as "the family,
like othet' social systems, is a power system, which rests to some degree on force or its
threat."
Conflict or family violence may also occur:
*
*
because of the undesirable habits or behaviour of its members;
because the family demands a high level of commitment which may
cause stress;
* because the various members often want to do different and
*
incompatible things at the same time; and
because members grow and develop in different directions, leading to
conflict in roles, status and expectations.
322. Studies pertaining to the major etiological factors in child abuse.
Researchers have written extensively on the possible cause ofabuse and have classified
them under various headings. In the present analysis, the writer has grouped the causes
JIDder four broad headings, Le. interaetional aspects, biological, psychological and
sociological. It should be realised that the abuse of children cannot be ascribed to any
one particular reason. Generally a variety offactors interact to produce the end result.
(1) Interactional aspects
(a) Studies pertaining to the generational