Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2)
Also known as: CTS2, Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, CTS
The Conflict Tactics Scale is the most widely used instrument for measuring how intimate partners handle disagreements and conflict, including tactics ranging from negotiation and psychological aggression to physical violence and sexual coercion. Developed by Murray Straus in 1979 and substantially revised in 1996 (CTS2), it is used extensively in family research, intimate partner violence assessment, and couple therapy evaluation. The CTS2 measures five dimensions of conflict behavior: negotiation (reasoning and discussion), psychological aggression (insults, threats), physical assault (pushing, hitting, weapon use), injury (physical consequences of violence), and sexual coercion.
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When to use it
The CTS2 is appropriate for couples seeking relationship assessment or therapy, research on intimate partner violence, and forensic evaluation. It is essential in domestic violence screening, safety planning, and risk assessment. Clinicians use it to document baseline conflict patterns and monitor change during therapy. It is particularly valuable in research examining prevalence and correlates of partner violence across populations. Caution is needed: the CTS2 should NOT be used as the sole measure of safety or abuse. Victims may underreport due to fear or shame, and instruments cannot replace clinical safety assessment and interview.
Strengths & limitations
- Comprehensive assessment of the full spectrum of conflict behaviors, from healthy negotiation to severe violence, enabling nuanced differentiation.
- Extensive validation across 30+ years and diverse populations; cited in thousands of epidemiological, clinical, and intervention studies.
- Strong reliability; subscales show adequate internal consistency (α = 0.80–0.88 for most scales).
- Available in brief and full versions; the M-CTS2 (20 items) is suitable for rapid screening in primary care or community settings.
- Vulnerable to underreporting by victims due to shame, fear of consequences, or minimization of abuse.
- Cannot be used to assess safety in isolation; must be paired with clinical interview and risk assessment.
- Does not measure controlling behavior, isolation, financial abuse, or other forms of coercive control outside physical tactics.
- Assumes accurate mutual reporting; discrepancies between partners are common and may reflect different perceptions or intentional distortion.
Frequently asked
Can I use the CTS2 in couples therapy with a couple experiencing violence?
Use the CTS2 with extreme caution. If there is an active safety risk, controlling behavior, or fear in the relationship, administer it to each partner separately without the other present. In many domestic violence contexts, couple therapy is contraindicated and individual assessment is safer. Always conduct a separate safety assessment and risk evaluation before beginning any couples intervention.
What does it mean if partners report very different levels of violence?
Discrepancies are common and can reflect genuine differences in perception, selective memory, shame or fear (causing underreporting by the victim), or deliberate minimization by the perpetrator. Large discrepancies warrant individual follow-up interviews to understand the context. In general, victims may underreport physical assault due to fear or self-blame, while perpetrators may minimize frequency or severity.
Does the CTS2 assess controlling or coercive behavior?
The CTS2 does not measure controlling behaviors such as financial control, isolation from family, or constant surveillance. These are core features of abusive relationships. Instruments like the Controlling Behaviors Scale or Power and Control Wheel should be used alongside the CTS2 for comprehensive coercive control assessment.
Is the CTS2 score of zero violence proof of a safe relationship?
No. A low CTS2 score indicates absence of reported physical, psychological, or sexual aggression, but does not assess emotional abuse, control, or psychological trauma. Additionally, victims may deny or minimize violence due to fear. Clinical interview and safety assessment must complement any CTS2 score.
Can the CTS2 be used in child protection or custody proceedings?
The CTS2 provides evidence of conflict tactics in a relationship but should not be the sole source of information in custody or safety decisions. Court-appointed evaluators should triangulate CTS2 data with clinical interviews, child interviews, police records, and risk assessment instruments (e.g., Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment). CTS2 scores do not directly translate to risk level or custody recommendations.
Sources
- Straus, M. A. (1996). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The Conflict Tactics Scale. Journal of Family Issues, 41(1), 75-88. link ↗
- Straus, M. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2004). A short form of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, and typologies for violence and control. Violence and Victims, 19(5), 507-520. DOI: 10.1037/t43278-000 ↗
- Hamby, S. L., Poindexter, V. C., & Reaney, S. (2006). Adaptations for diverse populations of the Conflict Tactics Scale: A review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11(4), 375-385. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/social-psychology/conflict-tactics-scale
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