Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)

Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) is a tool used to measure the frequency of different types of conflict behavior in intimate relationships. Developed in the 1970s by Murray A. Straus and Richard J. Gelles, the CTS has become one of the most widely used instruments for measuring physical, psychological, and sexual aggression in relationships. The CTS is a selfreport instrument that asks respondents to indicate how often they have used a variety of conflict tactics in their current or most recent relationship. The CTS includes two subscales: the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) subscale and the General Conflict Tactics (GCT) subscale. The IPV subscale measures physical, psychological, and sexual aggression, while the GCT subscale measures more general types of conflict tactics, such as problem solving, negotiation, and verbal aggression. The CTS has been used in a variety of research contexts, including studies of the prevalence of violence in intimate relationships, the effects of violence on individuals, and the effectiveness of interventions for reducing violence. The CTS has also been used to assess the impact of gender roles on conflict behavior, as well as the influence of social and cultural factors on conflict tactics. The CTS has been criticized for its focus on physical and psychological aggression, as well as its lack of attention to other forms of conflict, such as economic and legal tactics. Additionally, some researchers have argued that the CTS fails to capture the complexity of conflict behavior in intimate relationships. Despite its limitations, the CTS remains a valuable tool for assessing conflict behavior in intimate relationships. It provides researchers with a standardized measure of the frequency of different types of conflict tactics, which can be used to compare different groups or to track changes in conflict behavior over time. The CTS is also useful for assessing the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce violence in intimate relationships.
Revised Scale
·         Negotiation
·         Explained side of argument
·         Suggested compromise to an argument
·         Showed partner cared
·         Said could work out problem
·         Agreed to try partner’s solution
·         Respected partner’s feelings
Psychological aggression (alpha = .79)
·         Insulted or swore at partner
·         Shouted at partner
·         Stomped out of room
·         Threatened to Mt or throw something at partner
·         Destroyed something of partners
·         Did something to spite partner
·         Called partner fat or ugly
·         Accused partner of being a lousy lover
Physical assault
·         Kicked‚ bit‚ or punched partner
·         Slapped partner
·         Beat up partner
·         Hit partner with something
·         Choked partner
·         Slammed partner against wall
·         Grabbed partner
·         Threw something at partner that could hurt
·         Used knife or gun on partner
·         Pushed or shoved partner
·         Twisted partner’s m or hair
·         Burned or scalded partner on purpose
Sexual coercion
·         Used force to make partner have sex
·         Used threats to make partner have anal sex
·         Used force to make partner have anal sex
·         Insisted on anal sex (no force)
·         Used threats to make partner have sex
·         Insisted on sex (no force)
·         Insisted on sex without a condom (no force)
Injury
·         Partner was cut or bleeding
·         Partner went to doctor for injury
·         Partner needed to see doctor but didn’t
·         Partner felt pain the next day
·         Partner had sprain or bruise could see
·         Partner’s private parts were bleeding
Original Scale (Form R‚ 1985)
Reasoning
A.    Discussed an issue calmly
B.    Got information to back up your side of things
C.    Brought in‚ or tried to bring in‚ someone to help settle things
Verbal aggression
D.   Insulted or swore at him/her
E.    Sulked or refused to talk about an issue
F.    Stomped out of the room or house or yard
G.   Cried (this item is not scored)
H.   Did or said something to spite him/her
I.     Threatened to hit or throw something at him/her
J.     Threw or smashed or hit or kicked something
Minor violence
K.    Threw something at him/her
L.    Pushed‚ grabbed‚ or shoved him/her
M.   Slapped or spanked him/her
Severe Violence
N.   Kicked‚ bit‚ or hit him/her with a fist        
O.   Hit or tried to hit him/her with something
P.    Beat him/her up
Q.   Choked him/her
R.    Threatened him/her with a knife or gun
S.    Used a knife or fired a gun
Partner CTS2
1.    I showed my partner I cared even though we disagreed.
2.    My partner showed care for me even though we disagreed.
3.    I explained my side of a disagreement to my partner.
4.    My partner explained his or her side of a disagreement to me.
5.    I insulted or swore at my partner.
6.    My partner did this to me.
7.    I threw something at my partner that could hurt.
8.    My partner did this to me.
9.    I twisted my partner’s arm or hair.
10.My partner did this to me.
11.I had a sprain‚ bruise‚ or small cut because of a fight with my partner.
12.My partner had a sprain‚ bruise‚ or small cut because of a fight with me.
13.I showed respect for my partner’s feelings about an issue.
14.My partner showed respect for my feelings about an issue.
15.I made my partner have sex without a condom.
16.My partner did this to me.
17.I pushed or shoved my partner.
18.My partner did this to me.
19.I used force (like hitting‚ holding down‚ or using a weapon) to make my partner have oral or anal sex.
20.My partner did this to me.
21.I used a knife or gun on my partner.
22.My partner did this to me.
23.I passed out from being hit on the head by my partner in a fight.
24.My partner passed out from being hit on the head in a fight with me.
25.I called my partner fat or ugly.
26.My partner called me fat or ugly.
27.I punched or hit my partner with something that could hurt.
28.My partner did this to me.
29.I destroyed something belonging to my partner.
30.My partner did this to me.
31.I went to a doctor because of a fight with my partner.
32.My partner went to a doctor because of a fight with me.
33.I choked my partner.
34.My partner did this to me.
35.I shouted or yelled at my partner.
36.My partner did this to me.
37.I slammed my partner against a wall.
38.My partner did this to me.
39.I said I was sure we could work out a problem.
40.My partner was sure we could work it out.
41.I needed to see a doctor because of a fight with my partner‚ but I didn’t.
42.My partner needed to see a doctor because of a fight with me‚ but didn’t.
43.I beat up my partner.
44.My partner did this to me.
45.I grabbed my partner.
46.My partner did this to me.
47.I used force (like hitting. holding down. or using a weapon) to make my partner have sex.
48.My partner did this to me.
49.I stomped out of the room or house or yard during a disagreement.
50.My partner did this to me.
51.I insisted on sex when my partner did not want to (but did not use physical force).
52.My partner did this to me.
53.I slapped my partner.
54.My partner did this to me.
55.I had a broken bone from a fight with my partner.
56.My partner had a broken bone from a fight with me.
57.I used threats to make my partner have oral or anal sex.
58.My partner did this to me.
59.I suggested a compromise to a disagreement.
60.My partner did this to me.
61.I burned or scalded my partner on purpose.
62.My partner did this to me.
63.I insisted my partner have oral or anal sex (but did not use physical force).
64.My partner did this to me.
65.I accused my partner of being a lousy lover.
66.My partner accused me of this.
67.I did something to spite my partner.
68.My partner did this to me.
69.I threatened to hit or throw something at my partner.
70.My partner did this to me.
71.I felt physical pain that still hurt the next day because of a fight with my partner.
72.My partner still felt physical pain the next day because of a fight we had.
73.I kicked my partner.
74.My partner did this to me.
75.I used threats to make my partner have sex.
76.My partner did this to me.
77.I agreed to try a solution to a disagreement my partner suggested.
78.My partner agreed to try a solution I suggested.
 
 
Revised Scale: 1 = never‚ 2= Sometimes‚ 4= often‚ 5 = frequently
Partner CTS2: How often did this happen? 1 = Once in the past year‚ 2 =Twice in the past year‚ 3 = 3-5 times in the past year‚ 4 = 6-10 times in the past year‚ 5 = 11-20 times in the past year‚ 6 =More than 20 times in the past year‚ 7 =Not in the past year‚ but it did happen before‚ 0 =This has never happened
Negotiation (1‚ 3‚ 13‚ 39‚ 59‚ and 77)‚ Psychological Aggression (5‚ 25‚ 29‚ 35‚ 49‚ 65‚ 67‚ and 69)‚ Physical Assault (7‚ 9‚ 17‚ 21‚ 27‚ 33‚ 37‚ 43‚ 45‚ 53‚ 61‚ and 73)‚ Sexual Coercion (15‚ 19‚ 47‚ 51‚ 57‚ 63‚ and 75)‚ Injury (11‚ 23‚ 31‚ 41‚ 55‚ and 71)
 
This instrument can be find at:
http://jfi.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/3/283
 
Contact for use:
Murray A. Straus
Family Research Laboratory
126 Horton Social Science Center
University of New Hampshire
Durham‚ NH 03824
Tel: 603-862-2594

Straus‚ M. A. (1974). Leveling‚ civility‚ and violence in the family. Journal of Marriage and the Family‚ 36‚ 13-29.

Straus‚ M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The Conflict Tactics Scales. Journal of Marriage and the Family‚ 41‚ 75-88.

Straus‚ M. A. (1990). The Conflict Tactics Scale and its critics: An evaluation and new data on validity and reliability. In M. A. Straus & R. J. Gelles‚ Physicul violence in American families: Risk factors and adaptations to violence in 8‚145 families (pp. 49-73). New Brunswick‚ NJ: Transaction Publishing.

Straus‚ M. A. (1995). Manual fur the Conflict Tactics Scales. Durham‚ NH: Family Research Laboratory‚ University of New Hampshire.

Straus‚ M. A.‚ Hamby‚ S. L.‚ Boney-McCoy‚ A.‚ Sugarman‚ D. B. (1996). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): Development and Preliminary Psychometric Data. Journal of Family Issues 1996; 17; 283

x