The researchers applied an investment model and a social learning model to understanding victimized wives' satisfaction and commitment to stay married. Thirty wives who reported physical abuse and 58 nonabused wives completed measures of marital stability, investment in marital problemsolving, and dyadic adjustment. Investment in marital problemsolving was assessed by having subjects indicate how much energy they have put into solving 34 common marital problems and whether their efforts were successful or unsuccessful. Consistent with a social learning model but counter to an investment perspective, correlational and multiple regression analyses for each group revealed that failed investment was significantly related to lower, not greater, commitment. Group differences also emerged. Whereas, nonabused wives' commitment was related to their dyadic adjustment, abused wives' commitment was related to their level of failed investment. Results are consistent with the concept that women may remain in abusive relationships because of psychological entrapment. 5 tables and 21 references