The cycle of domestic violence

Intimate partnership violence can be explained as a cyclic and repetitive behavioural pattern consisting of a tension building phase, the explosion of violence and a honeymoon phase.

The cycle of violence is a pattern often experienced in domestic violence, and it consists of three main phases, which tend to repeat as a cycle:

  • A tension building phase
  • An explosion of violence
  • A honeymoon phase

In domestic violence cases, after the act of physical violence, it is common for the abuser to apologize to his victim, to say that he loves her and to make promises to change, which creates a fantasy and makes it harder for victim to leave the abusive relationship. However, the fact that the relationship has entered the so called “honeymoon” phase and there is no active violence at that time, does not mean that the domestic violence has ended. On the contrary, it is expected to enter the tension building phase and repeated violence. In addition, the abuser still maintains power and control over his victim during all phases, including the “honeymoon” phase.

If no one intervenes in the cycles of violence, the “periods of peace” between every cycle drop in length over time and every subsequent cycle increases in severity i.e., the phase of violence comes more often and is more severe, whereas the honeymoon phase tends to disappear. In many cases, there is no need to use active physical violence against the victim to maintain control.

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