In introducing the next four essays, the first essay advises that only through an interdisciplinary approach to the study of domestic violence will the various disciplines, as well as academics and professionals working in this area, come to understand the nature, causes, consequences, and treatments for domestic violence. The next essay provides an overview of the history of wife abuse and its roots in traditions of patriarchy, followed by a review of the latest trends in civil legal relief for battered women. The latter includes expanding civil laws to provide protection to more people, such as dating partners, same-sex couples, and people who offer help to victims. The next essay reports on a study that compared the rates and correlates associated with an arrest response by police in cases of domestic assault calls in one jurisdiction at one point in time, using two methodological approaches: police self-report and case record analysis. The final essay reviews three issues based on the research literature on group treatment programs for batterers. Chapter tables and references