MANY VARIABLES ARE FOUND TO AFFECT THE DISTRIBUTION AND UNDERREPORTING OF THIS CRIME. CULTURAL FORCES SUCH AS THE TRADITION OF MALE SUBJUGATION OF FEMALES, WOMEN'S STATUS IN SOCIETY, AND THE 'MACHO' IMAGE OF MASCULINITY ARE SEEN TO PARTIALLY ACCOUNT FOR THE PHENOMENON OF WIFE ABUSE. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS ALSO AFFECT WOMEN'S ENDURANCE OF WIFE ABUSE. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT SUCH VIOLENCE MAY BE TOLERATED BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN'S NEED FOR SECURITY, NEED FOR SOCIAL APPROVAL, AND FEAR OF REPRISAL. IN ADDITION, SOCIAL AGENTS SUCH AS POLICE, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, OR THE COURTS OFTEN PROVIDE INADEQUATE SUPPORT AND AID TO THE ABUSED WIFE. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT GREATER ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PROBLEM OF WIFE ABUSE. THIS WOULD BRING INCREASED IDENTIFICATION OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO WIFE ABUSE AND GREATER INTERVENTION IN THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC VARIABLES THAT RELATE TO THE ABUSE OF WIVES. AMONG THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH COULD BE INSTITUTED ARE AMENDMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CREATION OF NEW SERVICES, SPONSORING OF IMPROVEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES WITH LEGAL RECOURSE, IMPROVEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES OF WORKERS DEALING WITH ABUSED WIVES, AND CREATION OF PROGRAMS OF COORDINATED SERVICES FOR BATTERED WIVES.