A SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE WAS DEVELOPED WHICH PERMITTED A SYSTEMATIC FRAMEWORK FOR EXAMINING THE DYNAMICS OF VIOLENT EVENTS, WHILE ALLOWING EACH WOMAN TO FOCUS ON THE CONCRETE EVENTS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL CONTEXT THAT MADE SENSE TO HER. THE SHORT EXCERPTS OF THREE EPISODES OF WIFE-BEATING AS EXPERIENCED BY THREE WOMEN ILLUSTRATE BOTH THE INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE AND SOME OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY. THE FIRST EXCERPT RECOUNTS THE FIRST VIOLENT EPISODE IN A MARRIAGE; THE SECOND AND THIRD RECOUNT THE WORST INCIDENT. IN EACH ACCOUNT, THE FACTORS LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT, THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE ASSAULT, AND THE EVENTS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EVENT ARE PRESENTED. THE FIRST ASSAULT IS USUALLY LESS SEVERE THAN SUBSEQUENT ONES, ALTHOUGH IT IS SO SHOCKING TO THE WOMAN THAT SOME SUBJECTS COULD RECALL IT VIVIDLY AFTER 20 YEARS OF ABUSE. THE MAN IS MORE READILY FORGIVEN, AND THE WOMAN TREATS IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. IT WAS OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR THE WOMEN TO SELECT A 'WORST' INCIDENT; THEY HAD SUSTAINED SO MANY ATTACKS AND INJURIES THAT FOR MANY THE CHOICE WAS MADE FROM AMONG MANY SIMILAR EVENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXTENT OF INJURIES, SOCIAL FACTORS SUCH AS PUBLIC HUMILIATION OR A HOLIDAY WERE OFTEN IMPORTANT IN THE SELECTION. THE LAST ASSAULT BEFORE THE WOMEN SOUGHT SHELTER FROM WOMAN'S AID WAS SOMETIMES THE WORST. HOWEVER, FOR MANY WOMEN, THE LAST ASSAULT WAS MUCH LIKE PREVIOUS ASSAULTS BUT MARKED A CHANGE IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO ESCAPE THE SITUATION. CONFRONTATIONS PRECEDING VIOLENCE USUALLY INVOLVED DISPUTES RELATING TO THE HUSBAND'S JEALOUSY, THE WIFE'S DOMESTIC DUTIES, OR FINANCES. ACCOUNTS CONTINUALLY ILLUSTRATE THAT THE WOMAN IS VIEWED AS A POSSESSION OF THE HUSBAND AND THEREFORE SUBJECT TO EVEN HIS MOST UNREASONABLE ATTEMPTS AT CONTROL. THE WIFE IS SEEN, BOTH BY THE HUSBAND AND OTHERS, TO HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE DOMESTIC SERVICES AND TO BE SUBORDINATE TO HIM. IN MANY CASES THE WOMAN IS ISOLATED IN THE HOME AND FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT ON HER HUSBAND. BOTH FACTORS LIMIT HER ABILITY TO SEEK AID AND MAKE HER MORE DEPENDENT ON THE RELATIONSHIP REGARDLESS OF THE SUFFERING SHE ENDURES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)