THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS IN MARRIAGE REMAINS HIDDEN BECAUSE THESE ENCOUNTERS ARE USUALLY PRIVATE EVENTS AND BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REACTS AND REPORTS INCONSISTENTLY WHEN CALLED INTO DISPUTES. VIOLENCE OF PHYSICAL ABUSE IS DEFINED AS AN OPEN AND DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO INFLICT INJURY OR THE ACTUAL INFLICTING OF INJURY ONTO ANOTHER PERSON. HUSBAND-WIFE VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM FOR THE COUPLE AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN WHO SOMETIMES WITNESS THE VIOLENCE OF THEIR PARENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO INTENSE CONFLICTS SURROUNDING VIOLENT EXCHANGES. CHILDREN WHO OBSERVE VIOLENCE ARE MORE LIKELY TO APPROVE OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS. AS WITH ANY SOCIAL PHENOMENON, A COMPLEX ARRAY OF FACTORS IS INVOLVED IN MARITAL VIOLENCE. ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL THEORIES OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION IS THE CATHARSIS THEORY. THIS THEORY STATES THAT AGGRESSION IS AN INBORN TENDENCY THAT CANNOT BE BOTTLED UP AND NEEDS TO BE RELEASED PERIODICALLY TO AVOID A MUCH LARGER VIOLENT OUTBURST IN THE FUTURE. TREATMENT METHODS HAVE CONSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED THAT ENCOURAGE CLIENTS TO VENTILATE AGGRESSIVE FEELINGS. OTHER APPROACHES IN THE TREATMENT OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION FOCUS ON PSYCHOANALYTIC METHODS AND SUPPORTIVE TECHNIQUES, WITHDRAWAL OF SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT WHEN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSES OCCUR, ASSSERTIVENESS TRAINING, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. IN RECOMMENDING TREATMENT INTERVENTION FOR COUPLES, EACH CASE OF MARITAL VIOLENCE MUST BE ASSESSED INDIVIDUALLY. THE FOLLOWING CAN HELP IN ASSESSMENT: (1) COMMUNICATION AND DISPLAY OF FEELINGS; (2) ASSESSMENT OF CONDITIONS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER VIOLENCE; (3) COUNSELING; (4) DIRECT INHIBITION OF ABUSIVE RESPONSES; (5) PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION TRAINING; (6) SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION TO FEAR, JEALOUSY, OR CRITICISM; AND (7) TECHNIQUES TO ELIMINATE OR CURTAIL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION WHICH IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH FAMILY VIOLENCE. CASE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS (TEMPORARY SHELTER FACILITIES FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE, WOMEN'S CONSCIOUSNESS GROUPS, AND POLICE TRAINED IN FAMILY COUNSELING AND CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES IS DISCUSSED. A FLOW CHART TO AID COUNSELORS IN TREATING MARITAL VIOLENCE AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)