Behavioral Treatment for Aggression in Couples

Description of the Strategy

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pervasive problem in American society, despite more than 20 years of widespread efforts to improve methods of prevention and treatment. As evidenced by several nationally representative surveys, roughly 1 in 5 couples will experience an incident of physical violence from within the dyad each year. IPV appears to have substantial negative consequences for the partners themselves, their children (who have elevated rates of emotional problems and are more likely to assault their intimate partners in adulthood than their counterparts from nonviolent homes), and society in general (resulting from costs related to medical, mental health, police, legal, and social services to victims and perpetrators).

Although historically viewed as a private family issue, IPV is ...