Violence Against Women: A Review of Recent Anglo-American Research

Abstract

In this paper we present a concise review of the existing evidence on what is known about the nature and extent of violence against women in intimate heterosexual relationships, primarily, although not exclusively, in Anglo-American societies. We also consider the nature of theoretical explanations in this domain and review the existing evidence regarding the efficacy of various types of interventions. The paper is based on the well-founded assumption that serious, consequential violence occurring in intimate heterosexual relationships is predominately asymmetrical, with men as the usual perpetrators and women the usual victims.