The Cycle of Violence/Abuse
Domestic violence or abuse usually follows a cycle, as shown below. If you find you are in a similar cycle in your present or past relationships, you most like are or have been a victim. To end domestic violence/abuse we must take the necessary steps to break this unhealthy pattern of events. Remember there are many forms of abuse.
TENSION BUILDING PHASE- Criticism, yelling, swearing, using angry gestures, coercion, threats as a result of problems regarding jobs, finances, children, and other areas are stressors and increase the tension.
ABUSIVE ACT-The tension is discharged resulting in an act of violence/abuse. The type of battering that occurs in this stage is usually much more serious and intense than in phase one and the woman may be severely injured.
HONEYMOON STAGE- The abuser typically exhibits loving, kind behavior while apologizing and promising that it will never happen again.
LOVE for your partner.
HOPE that things will change.
FEAR of the threats and intimidation.
These three dynamics help keep the cycle in motion and make it hard to end a violent or abusive relationship.
redistributed, or copied without written permission from KineticConnections.com. Using these images without permission is in violation
of federal and international copyright law.