Conventionalization in partners in a marital relationship refers to one partner's tendency to ascribe to his or her spouse, and to the relationship, socially acceptable qualities and to minimize undesirable qualities. Questionnaire research on physical violence in both marital and dating couples has not yet included measures of conventionalization to control for social desirability. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between coercion and conventionalization in dating couples. Undergraduate students (N=488) completed a measure of coercion, defined as verbal and/or physical behaviors to compel compliance, and a conventionalization measure concerning their current or most recent dating relationship. The results indicated that increased conventionalization was associated with increased depth of involvement, increased duration of the relationship, decreased levels of coercion, and an ongoing versus past relationship. (Author/NB)