Domestic Violence Cycle

Get help to stop the domestic violence cycle and do not let the pattern of abuse continue. Do not think that you can make up with your partner. Do not be fooled by the calm before the storm. And, do not allow tension to build until the next incident of abuse occurs. Only genuine intervention will stop the process.

The domestic violence cycle is divided into four phases:

MAKING UP

CALM

TENSION BUILDING

INCIDENT

Phases 1 and 2 together are sometimes referred to as the Honeymoon Phase.

Couples enter into a relationship with high hopes and great expectations. They believe they have found the perfect partner with the potential of a long life together. It can begin with a casual meeting and grow into dating. After dating may come the plan to begin a permanent relationship. During initial dating or during the beginning of a permanent relationship, the partnership may be in a period of calm known as the Honeymoon Stage.

However, some partners are abusive and are a ticking time-bomb of violence waiting to erupt. Usually, the signs are present, but difficult to recognize until actual violence occurs. Any kind of emotional or physical abuse should be evaluated carefully.

In the domestic abuse cycle, tension builds in the tension phase, and ultimately and incident occurs in the explosion phase. There is no specific length of time for any of the phases, but they all exist in every domestic violence cycle.

The main issue to remember is that a circle has no beginning and no end unless you break the cycle.

The cycle of domestic violence is a nasty circle. The pattern will repeat itself, and the abused will not succeed in transforming the abuser into the person they once were. The physical abuse is seldom a onetime event. As time goes on, the abuse can escalate. An abused woman should seek physical and emotional help when the abuse begins to make the woman feel insecure. When the feelings of low self-esteem escalate, the woman needs to move out of the relationship. The hope of renewal is unhealthy and seldom becomes a reality. It is time to move on and seek help.

If a victim does not seek domestic violence help, the honeymoon stage will begin again with a period of making up and a period of relative calm. Then tension will build, and eventually another explosion of violence and abuse will occur.

Continue reading about the four phases of the domestic abuse process.

Phase 1 - MAKING UP

Phase 2 - CALM

Phase 3 - TENSION BUILDING

Phase 4 - INCIDENT

Allowing the domestic violence cycle to continue is not worth the risks and dangers. Instead, tap into the variety of research and organizations that support victims of domestic violence and prevent the abuse. Bolden, Rebecca, "Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence" (2010). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. Paper 855. http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/855

Look at some of the stories that follow. Can you identify what point in the abuse process these victims are currently in?

Test Your Skill in Identifying the Current Phase of the Domestic Violence Cycle

Click on some of the stories that follow. Can you identify what point in the abuse process these victims are currently in?

Short Stories of the Domestic Violence Cylce 
From the moment I met him I knew I loved him, it felt like I knew him for all time. It started small, flashes of anger then telling and breaking things. …

Getting the Strength to Leave 
I've read many of the stories on this site all are sadly familiar. The last couple weeks with my malignant narcissist/ sociopathic spouse have been the …

Stuck! I feel helpless, hopeless and have no self esteem left 
I have been with my boyfriend for five years now. From the beginning, I should have just left because these problems have been going on since then and …

From Time to Time - Stories of Ongoing Domestic Violence Not rated yet
After being married for a little over a year, it was all perfect and then BOOM! Just like that, he started to yell, he called me names and degraded me. …

Lashae Losing Battle - Still at War Not rated yet
It's been 15 years. We were teenagers. The first time was three months into our relationship. I was only 17 years old and did not know how to react to …

Beaten Not Broken Not rated yet
I met Nick when I was 23 years old at Lipstick, a local dance club. I was a young, show-going scenester who prided herself in the multiple stamps on her …

Timeline of Pain - An Ongoing Issue Not rated yet
It started a decade ago; I was 16 going onto 17. That’s when everything changed. I said goodbye to the happy person I used to be. My mother described …

Living With Domestic Violence from S Not rated yet
This man, my husband, just broke my nose again and just called me lazy twice in half an hour. This time though was different because he went and got his …