In this review, the intergenerational transmission of family violence(ITFV) is defined as the process through which purposively an earlier generation psychologically influences family aggression attitudes and behavior, including abusing and abused of either the rest of the family or the next generation. And the pattern will get passed down from generation to the next. The existing of intergenerational transmission effect in different kinds of family violence is well-documented. Previous studies explored the mechanisms of ITFV from sociocultural, social learning, social information processing and attaching perspectives. The current review also explored different predictors(e.g. demographic variables, social environment, psychopathological and psychological and biological matters) of ITFV. The further studies should focus on the different types mechanisms, physiological bases of violent transmission,as well as dynamical system models. Following research should be established in Chinese context.