First, such behavior often results in physical and emotional injury.Second, there is reason to believe that dating violence is often a precursor to spousal abuse.

Clearly, violence during dating represents a significant contemporary issue with historical overtones and a social problem that warrants study separate from domestic violence.

Six significant interactions between vulnerability factors and precipitating factors explained 14 percent of variance in physical dating violence.

‘‘Dating’’ is a conventional term describing the process of forming and maintaining intimate relationships. However, coupled with immaturity and inexperience, adolescents are also more apt to use less than prosocial strategies for dealing with relational conflict such as verbal put-downs or physical aggression.

Many battered women report that they were first assaulted by their husbands during courtship (Simons 467).

Women, more than men, appear to bear the brunt of courtship violence.