Results suggest that needs for social approval may influence reports of the use of physical aggression against a spouse: both men and women who scored high on social desirability were less likely to report having perpetrated physical aggression. Reports of victimization, however, were unaffected by social desirability. Social desirability also did not influence the relationship between individual and couple characteristics and reports of physical aggression, nor did it influence reported severity or frequency of physical aggression. 17 references.