Cycle of violence: Encyclopedia - Cycle of violence

Cycle of violence

The Cycle of Violence, is a cycle which shows what usually happens in an abusive relationship.

The cycle can happen hundreds of times in an abusive relationship. Each stage lasts a different amount of time in a relationship. The total cycle can take anywhere from a few hours to a year or more to complete.

It is important to remember that not all domestic violence relationships fit the cycle. Often, as time goes on, the "making-up" and "calm" stages disappear

Cycle of violence - Cycle of Violence

The cycle usually goes in the order as follows, and would repeat until the conflict is stopped.

• Any type of abuse occurs (physical/sexual/emotional)

• Abuser may apologize for abuse
• Abuser may promise it will never happen again
• Abuser may blame the victim for causing the abuse
• Abuser may deny abuse took place or say it was not as bad as the victim claims

• Abuser acts like the abuse never happened
• Physical abuse may not be taking place
• Promises made during 'making-up' may be met
• Victim may hope that the abuse is over
• Abuser may give gifts to victim

• Abuser starts to get angry
• Abuse may begin
• There is a breakdown of communication
• Victim feels the need to keep the abuser calm
• Tension becomes too much
• Victim feels like they are "walking on egg shells"

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Cycle of violence", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki