Physical abuse within the family - the problem of the industrial town?

The problem of physical abuse in the family during the period of the transformation of the political system and changing the structure of mining industry is the subject of the article. Such phenomena as unemployment, miners’ leaves, early retirement have influenced the relationships within the family. The relation based upon pressure, alcohol addiction, a feeling of occupational unflulfilment and a lack ofprospects for themselves as well as for their offspring; all of these factors are frequent in such a family. Violence within the family is often the result of the patriarchal model of the village family, from which people arriving in Silesia derive. Without their roots, they did not have time to develop their own tradition and a model family meeting the requirements of contemporary times. Furthermore, violence provides an easy outlet for aggression within the family when the difficult situations occur. Family crisis should become a matter of local authorities’ tasks who shall aim at the proper co-ordination of activities for the benefit of the family, as well as the local authorities should propagate the present-day personality and new individualism