THE DATA FOR THIS STUDY, WHICH EXAMINES THE ATTITUDES OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TOWARD WIFE ABUSE, WERE DERIVED FROM A SURVEY OF 2 SAMPLES OF PERSONS 18 YEARS AND OLDER AND RESIDING IN THE DETROIT, MICH., STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA. INTERVIEWS WERE MADE EITHER IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE, AND A MAIL-BACK QUESTIONNAIRE WAS OFFERED TO EACH RESPONDENT INTERVIEWED. THE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON A VIGNETTE IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE DEALING WITH A WIFE-ABUSE INCIDENT. THE ATTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY WAS EXAMINED ACROSS THREE SITUATIONAL VARIABLES: PAST PATTERN OF ABUSE, JUSTIFICATION OF THE ACT, AND SEVERITY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACT. FINDINGS SHOW THAT 73 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS ATTRIBUTE BLAME FOR THE INCIDENT TO THE ABUSER, WITH THE ATTRIBUTION INFLUENCED BY THE JUSTIFICATION OF THE ACT AND SEVERITY OF CONSEQUENCES. THERE FINDINGS SUGGEST A NEED FOR ATTITUDE CHANGE AMONG THE PUBLIC FOCUSING ON THE UNACCEPTABLENESS OF WIFE BEATING REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DOCUMENTED REASONS THAT WOMEN STAY IN ABUSIVE SITUATIONS (LACK OF INDEPENDENT RESOURCES AND LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES) COMPLEMENTED BY THIS INFORMATION, SHOW THAT AT THE LEVEL OF INTERNAL PROCESSES, ATTRIBUTIONAL PATTERNS MAY BE RELEVANT DETERMINANTS OF WHY WOMEN STAY. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)