Eighteen male wife-beaters were compared with 19 battered males concerning their background, history of addiction and present social situation, as well as present violence. The two groups of males had a very similar background including violence in their parental home. Alcohol and drug problems were common, the males generally belonged to the lower social classes and the number of divorcees was large. Many of the battered males had abused someone and the male batterers had been victimized themselves. It is concluded that the roles as victims and assailants vary among these men. The same background and precipitating factors will predestine the male to be a batterer or to be battered, but most probably both.