LEARNED HELPLESSNESS (SELIGMAN, 1974) IS A USEFUL THEORETICAL CONSTRUCT TO UNDERSTAND THE COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, AND MOTIVATIONAL PROBLEMS SO FREQUENTLY OBSERVED AND REPORTED BY BATTERED WOMEN. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PARALYSIS, WHICH KEEPS BATTERED WOMEN IN ABUSIVE SITUATIONS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE THEORY. THE FIRST PHASE, OF THIS THREE PHASED CYCLE, IS TERMED THE TENSION BUILDING PHASE IN THAT TENSION BEGINS TO RISE AND ABUSED WOMEN CAN SENSE THEIR MEN BECOMING EDGY AND MORE PRONE TO REACT NEGATIVELY TO FRUSTRATION. LITTLE ACTS OF VIOLENCE WHICH MAY OCCUR DURING THIS PERIOD ELICIT APOLOGIES FROM THE HUSBAND AND ATTEMPTS BY THE WIFE TO PLACATE THE HUSBAND. HOWEVER, THE TENSION CONTINUES TO BUILD AND BOTH PARTIES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH THE TENSION. THEY CAN ALMOST WELCOME THE SECOND PHASE IN WHICH THE MAN ACTIVELY ABUSES THE WOMAN. THIS IS THE MOST VIOLENT AND SHORTEST OF THE PHASES. THE ENDING OF PHASE TWO AND MOVEMENT INTO PHASE THREE IS WELCOMED BY BOTH PARTIES. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXTREMELY LOVING, KIND, AND CONTRITE BEHAVIOR. IN THIS WAY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN BECOME ENTRAPPED IN A CYCLE OF VIOLENCE FROM WHICH THEY CAN NOT EASILY ESCAPE. HOWEVER, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PHASES DOES HAVE PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. DETAILED ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO RESEARCH NEEDS IN THIS FIELD IN TERMS OF NEW AREAS OF RESEARCH STUDIES, RESEARCH METHODS, AND GREATER USE OF EXISTING DATA. SEVEN SPECIFIC TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED INCLUDING THE USE OF SHELTERS AND NEW PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AND ADVOCACY TECHNIQUES. (KCP)