Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
The Intimate Justice Scale: an instrument to screen for psychological abuse and physical violence in clinical
1Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, USA. bjory@berry.edu
Abstract:
This article describes development of the Intimate Justice Scale (IJS) and reports on a clinical study of the validity, reliability, and clinical usefulness of the instrument. Rather than measuring specific acts of abuse, the IJS measures ethical dynamics of couple relationships, which are evident in patterns of action and attitude expressed over the course of the relationship. Ethical dynamics appear to correlate with partner abuse. The study suggests that the IJS may reliably identify victims of abuse and may discriminate between minor and severe levels of abuse. The IJS can be completed and scored in less than 10 min and may be useful for screening in mental health, medical, and social service agencies. Clinical guidelines and a case example are presented.
Related Concept Videos
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Bullying
Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
