Argues for two distinct forms of couple violence. Review of large-sample surveys and data gathered from women's shelters suggests that some families suffer from occasional violence by either husbands or wives (common couple violence), while other families are terrorized by systematic male violence (patriarchal terrorism). Implications are…

Investigated relationship between courtship violence and later spouse abuse in 82 women clients at domestic violence shelters. Examination of histories with regard to physical violence during childhood, courtship, and marriage demonstrated remarkable similarity between courtship and marital violence. Relationship violence rather than courtship or…

Husbands' beliefs regarding justifying wife beating, holding violent husbands responsible for their behavior, and blaming battered wives for violence against them are investigated among Palestinian men. Patriarchal ideology provides a conceptual framework for presentation and discussion of the findings from multiple regression analyses.…

Recent qualitative investigations of abusive men have indicated that power and control of the wife are central themes in incidents of marital violence. Furthermore, anecdotal and empirical evidence suggest that abusive husbands hold more traditional sex-role stereotypes, are more possessive and jealous, and are more controlling than nonabusive…

Used survey data from 619 husbands residing in Bangkok, Thailand, to assess their use of physical force against their wives. Results provide strong support for importance of socioeconomic status, marital instability, and verbal marital conflict as predictors of Thai wife abuse. (Author/NB)

A number of factors came together in the 1970s to create a social problem called "battered wives". Then, beginning in 1977, there was an attempt to create a social problem called "battered husbands." So far, such attempts have been unsuccessful. This analysis compares the issue of battered husbands and battered wives to…

Despite general trends for violence in marriage to escalate in frequency and intensity, there are some couples who, through their own efforts, stop being violent. Describes three such couples, with particular attention given to spouses' reports on the cessation of their violence. Discusses implications of these couples' experiences for the…

This study was conducted to investigate the attitudes of undergraduate college students (N=168) toward a reported incident of domestic turbulence. The five independent variables investigated were gender, marital status, age, family structure, and personal experiences with abuse. Two scenarios were used; one contained a provocation statement by the…

This study examined the hypothesis that the reason people believe the two sexes have different personality traits is because they enact roles that vary in power. Men usually enact a dominant role, expressing personality traits of self-assertion or agency, while women usually enact a subordinate role, expressing the personality traits of…

Compared posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rates among battered women and nonbattered, maritally distressed women. Battered women exhibited significantly higher rates of PTSD than the maritally distressed women. Women with PTSD were more likely than non-PTSD women to have experienced self-reported childhood sexual abuse and numerous…

Interviewed and physically assessed 102 married men in an attempt to develop a biopsychosocial model of male domestic violence. Used Tobit analysis to identify significant predictors. Analyzed separately, each domain was significantly related to male domestic violence. When considered together, only the biological and social domains yielded…

Estimated odds of mild and severe husband-to-wife physical aggression in 11,870 white men. Being younger, having lower income, and having alcohol problem significantly increased odds of either mild or severe physical aggression. Drug problem uniquely increased risk of severe physical aggression. Marital discord and depression further increased…

Employed data from the National Family Violence Survey to explore predictors of fear of future abuse among married or cohabitating women (n=356) whose partners abused them. Fear was higher in women whose partners initiated the violence; subjected them to forced sex or; made them afraid to retaliate in violence. (SNR)

Assessed the prevalence and frequency of marital violence for 88 male alcoholics and their wives at entry to and 1 year after completing a behavioral marital therapy (BMT) program. Although violence and prevalence decreased significantly after treatment, the alcoholics' drinking outcome status was associated with the extent of violence after BMT.…

Uses social bonding theory to address the connection between violent family heritage and violence or nonviolence in adult intimate relationships. Findings show that, despite violent family histories, men who develop strong attachments and who perceive negative sanction threats from significant others, are more prone to nonviolence with female…