If through an element of area of a continuum there acts not only a force but also a couple, we have to introduce besides the force-stresses the so-called couple-stresses. In this article we emphasize the importance of couple-stresses in dislocated solids.—§ 2 gives a short review of the present state of the theory of couple-stresses. In classical elasticity couple-stresses are to be interpreted as a non-local effect intimately connected with the range of the atomic forces. The couplestresses are of a higher order in this range than force-stresses and can therefore usually be neglected. In the field theory of dislocations couple-stresses generally are of the same order of magnitude as force-stresses, however. Hence they cause considerable effects. In § 3 we determine the macroscopic observable couple-stresses of homogeneously distributed screw and edge dislocations through averaging over their microscopic fluctuating stress field. With the PEIERLS model we show in § 4 that the core of a dislocation produces an asymmetric state of stress and for that reason also couple-stresses, which are negligibly small under certain circumstances. Introducing a simple polycrystal model we derive in § 5 the constitutive relations for couple-stresses and dislocation density in an isotropic form. The results are discussed in § 6.