Physical Violence Among White, African American, and Hispanic Couples: Ethnic Differences in Initiation, Persistence,

More than 20 years of research, together with media attention, has created an image of intimate violence against women as a single pattern of violence escalation and persistence that is stopped only by the termination of the relationship or some outside intervention (Pagelow, 1981; Walker, 1984). More recent research, however, suggests that this is only one of several patterns of violence against women (Aldarondo, 1996; Aldarondo and Kaufman Kantor, 1997; Aldarondo and Sugarman, 1996). Although more and more researchers are beginning to focus on the possibility and importance of different patterns of intimate partner violence, the literature in this area is still lacking. Of the studies that have considered patterns of persistence and cessation, relatively few have used large samples (Wofford, Mihalic, and Menard, 1994). In fact, many of what can be considered landmark studies in this area have relied on very small samples (Aldarondo and Sugarman, 1996; Feld and Straus, 1989; Kaufman Kantor and Aldarondo, 1997). Moreover, previous research has relied on information from only one of the individuals in the intimate relationship. A growing body of research suggests that more reliable data can be obtained when information on violent behavior comes from both individuals (Bohannon, Dosser, and Lindley, 1995; Szinovacz, 1983; Szinovacz and Egley, 1995). Existing research on pattern