Courtship Violence Experienced by Abused Wives: Similarities in Patterns of Abuse

The relationship between courtship violence and later spouse abuse was investigated. Subjects were 82 women clients at domestic violence shelters across the state of Michigan whose histories were examined with regard to physical violence during childhood, courtship and marriage in an attempt to discern patterns of experience. Findings demonstrate a remarkable similarity between courtship and marital violence. The existence of relationship violence rather than courtship or spouse abuse as separate phenomena is suggested.