The research rested on the view that domestic violence is a socially constructed activity that is imbued with meaning by both participants and observers. Interviews were conducted with 15 men and 15 women in a marital or cohabiting relationship of at least 6 months, who had experienced 2 or more incidents of husband-to-wife violence in the year preceding the research interview. Over half the respondents were not related to one another. The respondents were white Irish-Catholic working-class adults, mostly under age 35. Results showed that battered women and abusive men have different perceptions of domestic violence. Violence was viewed as the result of temporary factors such as the influence of alcohol or stresses caused by job problems. More battered women than abusive men stated that the husband had intended to hurt his wife. Battered women also more frequently defined the incident as violent. Significantly more abusive men than battered women justified the incidents on the grounds of the wife's words or actions or the lack of other options for expressing anger. Findings challenge current theoretical approaches to domestic violence and suggest the need for models to include the component of social meaning. Findings also do not support the distinction between excuses and justifications. Tables and 77 references.