IT IS ARGUED THAT THE VIOLATION OF FAMILY RULES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE IDENTITIES OF PARTICIPANTS IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS, CAN INITIATE A PROCESS WHEREIN THE VALIDITY OF THE RULE IS NEGOTIATED AND ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE HARM-DOING OF THE VIOLATIONS ARE BEGUN. FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF RULE VIOLATIONS WHICH MAY ENHANCE THEIR BEING PERCEIVED AS AGGRESSIVE ARE PRESENTED. IT IS FURTHER POSITED THAT THE FAMILY AS AN INTIMATE GROUP, ESPECIALLY THE HUSBAND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP, MAY HAVE CERTAIN STRUCTURAL FEATURES WHICH INCREASE THE PROBABILITY THAT RULE VIOLATIONS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS JUST LISTED ENHANCE THE ATTRIBUTION OF AGGRESSION. FINALLY, ATTRIBUTION PROCESSES ARE USED TO DEMONSTRATE HOW INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE CAN PREDISPOSE ONE TO PERCEIVE SUBSEQUENT RULE VIOLATIONS AS AGGRESSIVE AND LEAD TO FURTHER INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE BY LOWERING THE TOLERANCE LEVEL OF INTIMATES. NUMEROUS STUDIES ARE CITED IN SUPPORT OF THESE PROPOSITIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)