The Cycle of Abuse
The cycle of abuse between souses of intimate partners involves three stages: 1)
tension building, 2) eruption of violence, and 3) a remorse period. After which the
cycle begins again.
Stage 1: the tension building stage can last anywhere from a few hours to many
months. It is a time where minor conflicts occur accompanied by threats of violence
that tend to increase.
Stage 2: When violence erupts the abuser (him or her) tends to do any of the
following: throwing objects at his or her partner, slapping, kicking, hitting, choking,
sexual abuse, or using weapons. Once the abuser begins the violence there is little
the victim can do to stop the abuse. Usually there are no witnesses.
Stage 3: A period of remorse on the abuser’s part, commonly known as the
honeymoon stage, may follow the violence. The abuser may apologize profusely,
express guilt or shame. The abuser may shower the victim with gifts or flowers or
other tokens to prove remorse, and get the victim to forgive the abuse. The abuser
may make promises to get treatment, that the abuse will never happen again, or
commit to future change that is not usually specified.
The cycle begins again with stage 1, with the passage of each cycle the abuse
often becomes more severe.
tension building, 2) eruption of violence, and 3) a remorse period. After which the
cycle begins again.
Stage 1: the tension building stage can last anywhere from a few hours to many
months. It is a time where minor conflicts occur accompanied by threats of violence
that tend to increase.
Stage 2: When violence erupts the abuser (him or her) tends to do any of the
following: throwing objects at his or her partner, slapping, kicking, hitting, choking,
sexual abuse, or using weapons. Once the abuser begins the violence there is little
the victim can do to stop the abuse. Usually there are no witnesses.
Stage 3: A period of remorse on the abuser’s part, commonly known as the
honeymoon stage, may follow the violence. The abuser may apologize profusely,
express guilt or shame. The abuser may shower the victim with gifts or flowers or
other tokens to prove remorse, and get the victim to forgive the abuse. The abuser
may make promises to get treatment, that the abuse will never happen again, or
commit to future change that is not usually specified.
The cycle begins again with stage 1, with the passage of each cycle the abuse
often becomes more severe.