VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, A LONGSTANDING SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON, HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION BY THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT. FOR MANY YEARS MOST PROFESSIONALS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUE NATURE OF THE DYNAMICS INVOLVED. WHEN FACED WITH RELATIONSHIPS WHERE WOMEN WERE REPEATEDLY ASSAULTED BY HUSBANDS OR BOYFRIENDS, PSYCHIATRISTS TENDED TO FOCUS ON THE WOMAN AND LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF PROVOCATION. FREUD'S THEORY OF THE MASOCHISM OF WOMEN WHICH STATES THAT WOMEN GAIN PLEASURE FROM SUFFERING ADDED WEIGHT TO THE UNIVERSAL HUMAN TENDENCY TO BLAME THE VICTIM FOR HER MISFORTUNE. FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DYNAMICS OF VIOLENT MARRIAGES, IT IS NECESSARY TO DIVIDE THEM INTO TWO MAJOR GROUPS. IN THE FIRST GROUP, VIOLENCE IS BROUGHT INTO THE MARRIAGE BY A MAN WHO HAS A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS VIOLENCE. HIS VIOLENT-PRONE CHARACTER STRUCTURE USUALLY ERUPTS EARLY IN THE COURTSHIP AND ESCALATES DURING THE MARRIAGE. ALTHOUGH ONE CAN VALIDLY ASK WHY THE WOMAN STAYS WITH HER HUSBAND, IT WOULD BE A GREAT INJUSTICE TO BLAME HER FOR THE HUSBAND'S BEHAVIOR. IN FACT, WOMEN, WHO FREQUENTLY WITNESSED THEIR OWN PARENTS' VIOLENCE DO THEIR BEST TO APPEASE THEIR PARTNERS. LIKE VICTIMS OF MAJOR CATASTROPHES (NATURAL DISASTERS, THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS), THEY ARE EITHER PARALYZED WITH TERROR OR BECOME WEAK AND APATHETIC 'ZOMBIES.' THE SECOND GROUP OF VIOLENT MARRIAGES USES VIOLENCE AS AN ULTIMATE RESORT FOR COMMUNICATION AFTER A PATTERN OF USELESS BICKERING. THE PARTNERS ARE NOT PRONE TO VIOLENCE BUT ESTABLISH A NEUROTIC INTERACTION (AS SHOWN IN ALBEE'S WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF), IN WHICH THE BEHAVIOR OF ONE THREATENS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSES OF THE OTHER. THESE MARRIAGES USUALLY IMPROVE WITH THERAPY OR MARITAL COUNSELING. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FOOTNOTES. (SAJ)