Violence is an integral part of American family life, yet little research exists concerning abuse among dating couples. To determine possible predictors of violence in college students' heterosexual relationships, 116 males and 388 females, or 94 percent of those contacted in psychology, sociology and nursing classes at Eastern Kentucky University, completed a six-part questionnaire consisting of demographic information; a short form of the Attitudes Toward Women Scale; the Social Desirability Scale; and three sections dealing with abuse. Statistical analyses showed that over half of both men and women had committed at least one physically violent act; men more often than women reported being the victims of such acts. Violence was found to be mutual, more characteristic of serious than casual relationships, and modestly related to sexual aggression. Men who abused their partners were not readily distinguished from those who did not, but tended to be young, low in family income, traditionalistic in attitudes toward women, abused as children, currently living with a woman, and from the traditionalistic Appalachian area. Women who abused were more readily discriminated and were low in social desirability, abused as children, and from non-Appalachian areas. Male victims were likely to be living with a woman and tended to be low in family income; female victims were likely to be living with a man, to be low in social desirability, and to have been abused as children. (Author/WAS)