Vignettes developed by Giovannoni and Becerra (1979) were adopted for use in this study by varying reference to the perpetrator and the victim. Vignettes portrayed mistreatment related to physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional mistreatment, nutritional neglect, medical neglect, supervision, cleanliness, and housing. Factor analysis of the seriousness ratings of the vignettes by a purposive sample of college students (214) showed, with minor exceptions, similar definitions for failure to provide, emotional mistreatment, and sexual abuse across the victim groups. Many similarities and differences among victim groups were apparently related to the victim's dependent status. Definitions for mistreatment of wives and husbands were similar, but differed from those for children and the elderly. The findings provide clues as to which types of family mistreatment are less likely to be reported by lay persons; e.g., housing standards would apparently bring less reporting regardless of the victim's status, and supervision problems would be reported for children but not for other family members. 6 tables, 27 references, appended vignettes. (Author abstract modified)