Featuring cutting-edge information on family violence from the international arena, Out of the Darkness pulls together into one seminal volume the work of emerging scholars and key figures in the field. The book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary package of the newest generation of investigation and theory. The contributors cover the latest: controversial topics; international studies; theory, methods, assessment and interventions; and ethical and cultural issues related to both child and partner abuse. Chapters address pressing questions such as: Is wife abuse declining? Are child homicides increasing? Does couple treatment work in violent marriages? Several noteworthy findings emerge from this volume, including: the wide variations in the forms, types and consequences of abuse; the need for support and change in both victim and batterer behaviours; and the overdue move toward expertise and sensitivity when dealing with affected populations.