This study compared batterers with battered women to investigate hypothesized differences in terms of frequencies, forms, outcomes, and attributions for abuse. To obtain data for abusive behavior profiles, 34 men arrested for spouse abuse and 30 women connected with a battered women's shelter completed the Relationship Abuse Questionnaire (a modified Conflict Tactics Scale). Although significant group differences did not occur in frequencies or forms of abuse, significant decreasing linear trends for both men and women occurred in verbal, psychological, threat, and physical abuse. In addition, significant gender dissimilarities occurred in outcomes of abuse, attributions for abuse, and their interactions. Significant decreasing linear trends for both genders occurred for both outcomes and attributions. These results suggest that underlying the similar gender frequencies of abuse are statistically significant contextual gender disparities in outcomes and attributions.
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