Tension Building

Domestic/Dating Violence Cycle:

Tension Building Phase: Conflicts arise resulting in verbal and/or emotional abuse. The victim may try to defuse the problem and keep the abuser pleased before things explode or get worse.

Violent Incident Phase: Batterer explodes and assaults victim. Situation is out of control and may remain that way for minutes or days. Although minor in the beginning, over time the violence will escalate in severity and occur more frequently.

Honeymoon Phase: Batterers becomes apologetic and remorseful of behavior. Will want to reconcile the relationship and may uses compliments, gifts, promises to change, and/or say things like, "We'll get through this together.

Violent Incident

Honeymoon Phase

Over time the levels of violence escalate and the Honeymoon Phase gets shorter.

Cycle Effects on Victim

May feel they are to blame for abuse

Never truly heal from stress in the environment

May Develop: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Bonding, and/or Learned Helplessness traits.

 

Cycle Effects on Batterer:

Learned there are no consequences to behavior

Lack of consequences make it easier to deny responsibility and shift blames somewhere else.