1 Understanding Domestic Violence -- A Brief Historical Look -- Domestic Violence in Review -- The Focus of This Study -- Summary -- 2 The Research Study -- Recruitment -- Protection and Consent of Respondents -- Interview Procedure -- Transcription and Coding Procedure -- Analysis -- This Research and the Male Batterers Program -- 3 Participants -- Demography of Respondents -- Participants -- 4 Emotions as Out of Control and Behavior as In and Out of Control -- Emotions as Out of Control -- Discussion on Emotions -- Behavior as In and Out of Control -- Discussion on Behavior -- Summary -- 5 Explaining Violence in Terms of Control -- An Interactionist Perspective -- Summary -- 6 Control as Object: Evidence for the Symbolic Interactionist Model -- Clarifying the Model -- Shortcomings to the Data -- Identifying the Subset of Data -- Evidence of the Symbolic Interactionist Model from the Findings -- Summary -- 7 Control as Object: An Analysis of Violence Over Time -- Phase One: The Emergence of Violence in Terms of Instrumentality -- Phase Two: Instrumental Violence to Nonviolence Through Control -- Summary -- 8 Conclusions -- Summary of Research Findings -- The Men's and Women's Perspectives -- Implications of Research Regarding Control and Violence -- Future Concerns for Symbolic Interactionists -- Summary -- Appendix 1 Data on Couples Over Time (1985) -- Appendix 2A Letter to Male Participants -- Appendix 2B Informed Consent Form to Male Participants -- Appendix 3A Letter to Female Participants -- Appendix 3B Informed Consent Form to Female Participants -- Appendix 4 Interview Approach -- Appendix 5 Interview Guide -- Appendix 6 Interview Guide Over Time -- Appendix 7 Coding Procedure -- Appendix 8A Demographic Characteristics of Respondents -- Appendix 9 Treatment Methods for Respondents Over Time (1985) -- Appendix 10 The Absence of Control -- Appendix 11 Applying the Model to Violence Toward Men -- References -- Author Index.