Over the past 20 years, theories regarding the underlying causes of intimate partner violence (IPV) have been shaped by research conducted within the disciplines of psychology, sociology, and criminology with academic theorists emphasizing individual explanations for IPV. A seminal paper written in 1998 by Heise sought to reconcile the individual-factor perspective with the social-cultural perspective, using an ecological framework to integrate the array of personal, situational, and social factors that interact to predict IPV. This paper sought to describe the etiology of IPV, using the social-ecological framework developed by Heise to categorize research findings from multiple disciplines according to the level of social organization at which they operate. It then reviews studies that investigate factors at various levels of the ecological IPV model described by Heise. Some factors, such as the relationship between childhood abuse and future victimization, have been the subject of a number of studies. Other factors, such as female empowerment via education, employment, and income, have been studied less frequently. It concludes with a discussion on the relevance within each level of the model to women’s use of violence. Figure, tables and references