VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BY MALE PARTNERS - PREVALENCE, OUTCOMES, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Violence against women has only recently been addressed in national po licy and legislation. Responses by most societal institutions to women assaulted by male partners are still based primarily on a lack of kno wledge about the prevalence, severity, and outcomes of violence perpet rated by men against female intimates. Although well suited to make a vital contribution, psychologists still rarely involve themselves in p roactive interventions with women victims. This article reviews empiri cal literature on the physical and sexual assault of women by their ma le intimates and discusses potential physical and psychological outcom es, with a focus on linking what is known about abused women's reactio ns with the rich literature on survivors' responses to trauma. Implica tions for research, treatment interventions, and policy are discussed.