Sex differences in perceptions of spousal abuse

Social and law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in cases and accounts of husband abuse. Although research has primarily focused on wife abuse and the issues surrounding female victimization, little has been done to examine the dimensions of husband abuse. Using the Revised Causal Dimension Scale (CDSII) to assess attributions of causality and blame of abused spouses, results showed that both male and female participants attributed blame significantly more to abused husbands than abused wives. Findings suggest that differences exist in perceptions of abuse depending on the sex of the victim.