ABSTRACT
This chapter elaborates the diverse patterns of interaction that occur among abusive couples by uncovering the relationship between verbal and physical aggression. It aims to assist the development of couple-appropriate treatment programs. The chapter argues that female verbal aggression and male physical aggression would affect varying levels of severity in interspousal violence. The account is a retrospective data collection method, commonly used to examine interspousal violence. While this method has some inherent limitations, it also has tremendous value under specifiable research conditions. The idea that verbally aggressive language can act as a trigger to physical violence is supported by the research literature on aggression. Some studies suggest that verbal aggression leads to physical violence where there are verbal skill deficiencies. To avoid the implications of a catalyst model, it is useful to consider verbal aggression and physical violence as covariates.
