NINE OF THESE WOMEN HAD BEEN DIVORCED OR SEPARATED FROM THEIR HUSBANDS, THIRTEEN HAD CALLED THE POLICE, EIGHT HAD SOUGHT COUNSELING FROM A PRIVATE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY, AND ELEVEN HAD SOUGHT NO OUTSIDE INTERVENTION. THREE MAJOR FACTORS INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF ABUSED WIVES. THE LESS SEVERE AND LESS FREQUENT THE VIOLENCE, THE MORE A WIFE REMAINS WITH HER HUSBAND. SECONDLY, THE MORE A WIFE WAS STRUCK AS A CHILD BY HER PARENTS, THE MORE LIKELY SHE IS TO REMAIN WITH HER ABUSIVE HUSBAND. LASTLY, THE FEWER RESOURCES A WIFE HAS AND THE LESS POWER SHE HAS, THE MORE LIKELY SHE IS TO STAY WITH HER VIOLENT HUSBAND. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)