AN INTERVIEW WITH A BATTERED WIFE WHO IS CONSIDERED TYPICAL OF MILLIONS OF SPOUSES INDICATES THAT APPARENTLY STABLE FAMILIES MAY BE AFFECTED WITH RECURRENT VIOLENCE. IN A NATION WHICH SEEMS TO DOCUMENT EVEN THE MOST TRIVIAL OF STATISTICS, THERE IS NO CLEAR INDICATION OF THE EXTENT OF SPOUSAL ABUSE. BECAUSE OF THE RELUCTANCE OF BATTERED SPOUSES TO REPORT THEIR VICTIMIZATION, EVEN ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER OF ABUSED SPOUSES ARE INEXACT. ONE STATISTIC IS WELL-KNOWN, HOWEVER. FULLY ONE-FOURTH OF THE HOMICIDES IN THE UNITED STATES INVOLVE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE DEATHS WERE THE RESULT OF ONE SPOUSE KILLING THE OTHER. OTHER STATISTICS GATHERED FROM HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND POLICE REPORTS INDICATE THAT A MILLION TO THREE MILLION INCIDENTS OF MATE BATTERING OCCUR EACH YEAR AND ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ATTRACT ATTENTION. EACH OF THESE INCIDENTS HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BECOMING ANOTHER CASE OF MARITAL HOMICIDE. THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS ARE WIVES, USUALLY MARRIED TO MEN WHO RECOGNIZE THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF THE WIFE AS THE HUSBAND'S CHATTEL. THE TYPICAL WIFE-BEATER IS PROBABLY FEARFUL, INSECURE, ANGRY AT HIMSELF, FRUSTRATED WITH HIS LIFE, AND COMPENSATES FOR HIS INADEQUACY BY BEATING HIS WIFE. ALCOHOL MAY BE USED BY THE HUSBAND BUT MORE AS AN EXCUSE THAN AS A CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE. MORE OFTEN THAT NOT, ARGUMENTS MAY PRECEDE THE VIOLENCE, BUT THE CONFLICT IS MOSTLY INTERNAL FOR THE HUSBAND, WITH THE WIFE MERELY BEING PRESENT. THREATS OF FURTHER VIOLENCE MAY KEEP THE WIFE FROM LEAVING. (TWK)