Often couples view the noncrisis period as the norm and true state of the marriage, and violence between them is perceived as an aberration. Issues such as emotional dependency, fear of rejection and abandonment, and shifting power balance between partners need to be addressed. The complexities of interaction and meaning surrounding the violence and the role of violence in the couple system allow for selective, differential use of an array of interventions. Effective treatment planning requires an accurate assessment of the cycle and stages of violence, reciprocal couple interactions and their meanings, the functions of violence in the system, intergenerational transmission of violence, and external factors that contribute to violence in the system. Assessment and treatment that address these areas not only prevent escalation to the crisis state but also offer partners a chance to preserve their relationship. 16 references