A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HISTORICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN INTRODUCES A DISCUSSION OF CULTURAL TRENDS WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE IN WIFEBATTERING, E.G., THE 'SEXUAL REVOLUTION,' A GENERAL LOWERING OF SOCIAL GOALS AND THE LOSS OF SERIOUS INTEREST IN PARENTHOOD. PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF WIFEBATTERERS ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE 'PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE' MALE, THE 'OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE' MALE, THE PARANOID MALE, AND THE SADISTIC MALE. THESE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS ARE COMPOUNDED WHEN ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL OR NARCOTICS IS PRESENT. JEALOUSLY ALSO COUNTS AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN CREATING A SITUATION OF DANGER FOR THE WIFE, WHILE ENDOCRINOLOGY AND ENZYMOLOGY MAY ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN TRIGGERING VIOLENCE. THE FACT THAT THE WIFE ALMOST INEVITABLY PLAYS A PART IN HER OWN ASSAULT, ALTHOUGH SHE IS NOT IN ANY WAY TO BLAME FOR IT, IS POINTED OUT IN AN EXAMINATION OF PERSONALITY PROBLEMS OF THE BATTERED WOMAN. THE AUTHOR EXPLAINS THAT, IN MOST MARRIAGES, THE PARTNERS ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY ON THE 'SAME LEVEL,' AND EACH USUALLY ADOPTS SOME CHARACTERISTIC POSTURE OF DOMINATION OR SUBMISSION IN RELATION TO THE OTHER. ONCE AN ASSAULT DOES OCCUR, THE WIFE MUST ASK HERSELF WHETHER SHE WISHES TO CONTINUE IN THE MARRIAGE, SEEK HELP, OR PRESS CHARGES. WITH REGARD TO ADDICTIONS, WHERE THE WIFE WISHES TO CONTINUE IN THE RELATIONSHIP, IT IS VITAL THAT SHE STAY AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND DURING HIS DRINKING BOUTS OR PERIODS OF DRUG-CRAVING. VICTIMS ARE URGED TO TAKE COURT ACTION WHEN ASSAULTED. HELP CAN BE OBTAINED FROM WOMEN'S CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING GROUPS AND SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS NEW YORK CITY'S ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN CRISIS, AND THROUGH PSYCHOTHERAPY, IF NEEDED. (DAS)