A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF SPOUSE ABUSE IS DETAILED, ILLUSTRATING THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER SOCIAL PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS. THE AUTHORS CLAIM THAT WIFEBEATING IS NOT DEVIANT, ABERRANT, OR PATHOLOGICAL -- IT IS AN ACT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE IN A PATRIARCHICAL SOCIETY. IN THIS CONTEXT, WIFEBEATING IS DEFINED AS THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE WITH THE INTENTION OF INFLICTING PAIN ON OR EVEN KILLING ONE'S WIFE. WIFEBEATING DATES BACK TO ROMAN LAWS OF PATRIARCHY, WHEN IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A MORAL IMPERATIVE OF SUBORDINATION. THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE CONTINUED THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES AND BEYOND. IN ENGLISH LAW, PRACTICES DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD, NO LAWS WERE MADE ON WIFEBEATING, BUT IN THE 1800'S IT WAS MADE ILLEGAL IN SOME STATES. NEW LEGISLATION AGAINST IT SOON FOLLOWED IN BRITAIN. STATISTICS SHOW THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF HOMICIDES AND VIOLENT ASSAULTS BY MEN WERE COMMITTED AGAINST THEIR WIVES, SWEETHEARTS, OR MISTRESSES. A STUDY IN SCOTLAND PRESENTED THESE SAME CONCLUSIONS. SOME INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN WHO WERE ABUSED ARE EXAMINED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT MOST WIVES ARE ABUSED AS A RESULT OF CHALLENGE TO THE MALE'S POSSESSION, AUTHORITY, AND CONTROL OVER THEM. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (BAC)