Much attention has focused on marital violence. As a logical outgrowth of this research, a new type of interpersonal violence is receiving some attention--dating abuse. Research shows that, although there are some similarities between the two types of violence, theories of marital violence are only partially appropriate for the study of dating violence. Other studies have estimated the proportion of college and high school students who have experienced dating violence. Social scientists have found some support for the belief that violent behaviors in dating relationships are learned through observation and the experience of family violence. Drawing upon these findings, a sociobiologic theory was proposed that gives a new perspective to this phenomenon. The author suggested that reproductive strategies lead to conflicts in dating couples. Implications of dating violence and intervention issues are discussed.