The CTS2
The most commonly used device to measure IPV is The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) created by Straus and colleagues in 1996. Since this device was made in 1996, it does not account for many aspects of IPV that have since been identified as important for diagnosis, such as stalking and aspects of psychological abuse.
This device is so commonly used because it has been incredibly reliable, showing consistent results across many studies. Researchers hesitate to create new instruments because new instruments must go through many phases of testing to show that they are reliable. However, it is important to have an updated, valid instrument that captures IPV as we currently understand it.
The CTS2 has many flaws that may limit its ability to identify IPV in certain relationships. Click on the arrows below to learn more.
Primarily, the CTS2:
Heavily focuses on physical violence
Physical violence does not appear in all abusive relationships, nor does it appear early in abusive relationships.
The CTS2 may fail to identify relationships where the abuse at the time of measurement is primarily psychological rather than physical or sexual.
Only measures abusive behaviors
The CTS2 does not measure abusive relationship traits that underlie the abusive behaviors.
The CTS2 may fail to identify relationships that have abusive traits (such as a power imbalance) but are not yet characterized by frequent abusive acts.
Uses heteronormative phrasing
This means the CTS2 was engineered for identifying IPV in only heterosexual relationships.
The CTS2 may fail to identify abuse in non-heterosexual relationships.
I created a new device for measuring IPV to address these flaws.