Cycle of Domestic Violence

Welcome to my webpage:
Cycle of Domestic Violence

The purpose of this page is to help educate people to the realities of violence toward women in relationships.

Listed below are the three phases which comprise the cycle.

Phase 1: TENSION BUILDING

Victim nurturing and compliant. Covers up for abuser's behavior with friends and family. Victim continues to "do her/his job well" and accepts full blame for any problems. Victim tries to keep the peace. Abuser's behavior begins to escalate. Abuser becomes increasingly jealous, verbally abusive and may slap victim. Abuser begins to lose control and so does victim. Rapid increase in tension.

Phase 2: ACUTE BATTERING INCIDENT

Rapid increase in tension. Abuser's rage is out of control and they both accept this. The victim can no longer tolerate the terror, anxiety, and anger at this stage and will sometimes push it to get the inevitable over with. Abuser becomes brutally jealous and verbally abusive. Abuser will batter victim even after victim is already severely injured or beaten. At this point the victim simply walls it out. It has been reported that they sometimes disassociate from their bodies and feel nothing. Extreme high tolerance of pain is also common.

Phase 3: HONEYMOON STAGE

Both welcome phase 3. Abuser is extremely loving and kind. Abuser begs forgiveness and promises he/she will change. Abuser convinces victim, self, and everyone else that the promise is genuine. At the same time abuser believes that he/she has taught victim a lesson. The victim wants to and does believe abuser and they re-bond.

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