Explanations for family violence range from influences related to the individual, to psychosocial influences, to sociocultural influences, and to genetic influences. A model of family violence including all the above types is the nested ecological model based on Bronfenbrenner's view. This chapter presents an overview of the major theories explaining family violence and its treatment. The major theories include social cognitive learning theory (violence learned through observation), feminist theory (violence based on male patriarchy and gender inequality), attachment theory (violence used to regulate intimacy), and family systems theory (violence as a result of family and environmental stress) as well as Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. While the nested ecological model provides broad‐based categories for explaining family violence, only a limited number of specific theories within the ecological model have influenced treatment models. Additionally, individual explanations fail to provide a stand‐alone explanation for violence.