In focusing on the promotion of respectful relationships, the following characteristics of an intimate relationship will be emphasized: belief in nonviolent conflict resolution, effective communication skills, the ability to negotiate and adjust to stress, belief in a partner's right to autonomy; shared decisionmaking; and trust that overcomes jealousy. The promotion of intimate relationships with these characteristics can occur in numerous ways. Relationship skills that protect against IPV could be taught to youth in order to provide them with skills in communication, managing stress, building trust, and resolving conflicts nonviolently. These types of protective factors could also be promoted by communities through programs that support couples who are dealing with stressful life events or provide means for couples to work out conflict nonviolently. Efforts at the societal level could focus on values consistent with more equitable sex roles by using men as agents of change to promote social norms supportive of respectful relationships. Initiating policies that increase the value of work done by women and efforts to obtain equal pay for women in similar jobs and with similar experience as men can facilitate respectful relationships. These policies would provide women with a social standing that would be equal to that of men. Programs and policies with the aforementioned characteristics are already being implemented, and more must be learned about their effectiveness in preventing IPV. Suggestions are offered for understanding, measuring, and monitoring respectful relationships. 38 references