Men who batter their wives often attempt to rationalize their violent act by blaming the __________.

Rationalize

The process of explaining or justifying behavior or attitudes with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not the real reasons.

Violent Act

A violent act is behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

Men

Adult human males, often referred to in contexts involving gender-specific topics, issues, or comparisons.