Conflict Tactics Scale

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.