THE NEED FOR MARITAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS - A BEHAVIORAL COGNITIVE SECONDARY PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ENGAGED AND NEWLY MARRIED-COUPLES

The purpose of this paper is threefold: (a) to review research indicat ing that prevention efforts are needed for marital violence; (b) to pr esent the rationale for a prevention approach derived from a behaviora l-cognitive, social learning perspective; and (c) to describe a new be havioral-cognitive secondary prevention program that we are developing for engaged and newly married couples at risk for marital violence. G iven these goals, we first present data demonstrating that physical ag gression is often introduced early in a relationship and is likely to continue without intervention. After reviewing questions about the eff icacy of marital violence treatment programs, we propose that preventi on is a potentially important means of reducing and eliminating relati onship violence. We then review behavioral-cognitive models of marital violence and the empirical data supporting these models. Based upon t his review, we introduce a new behavioral-cognitive program (PREP/SAVE ) designed to prevent relationship violence. Finally, we briefly prese nt our pilot work and planned research on the efficacy of PREP/SAVE, a long with some issues for consideration by future researchers.