Cycle of Domestic Violence: Phases, Warning Signs & Patterns

Cycle of Violence

Partial summary of the cycle of violence

Cycle of violence: Partial summary of the cycle of violence as follows:

Initial phases

1. Tension building: These tensions are set from small incidents or conflicts. They are the sum of many frustrations; therefore there is a lack of satisfaction in couples.
2. Explosion and aggression: The aggressor takes action.
3. Phase of calm: This stage is the reinforcement provided to the victim to keep her partner. It is a time when the offender shows affectionate, attentive behavior, excuses their actions through gifts or pleasant attitudes, and sometimes asks for forgiveness.

Detailed analysis

With all these data, the analysis of the cycle of violence can be summarized as follows:

1. There is insatisfaction in couples.
2. Psychological and verbal violence are present in the couple, thus encouraging aggression.
3. An aggressive man threatens to attack; the threat is an indication that the action may occur.
4. There is a precipitating factor (stress, loss of a job, pregnancy, etc.).
5. The act of aggression takes place (for example, the battered woman seeking help because of this crisis).
6. The offender's repentance is expressed through behaviors of reconciliation; this is the remission or honeymoon phase.
7. As conflicts have not been resolved and there are no consequences for the perpetrator, the violent pattern repeats and starts again.
8. Psychological and verbal violence escalate toward the next threat of aggression. The cycle is complete.

Remission or honeymoon

If she receives no help in stage No. 5 immediately after the attack, the remission phase will start. Then it will be impossible to mobilize support for the victim. The victim focuses all her hopes in this period of reconciliation and thinks her partner will change.

Remission or honeymoon: The crisis reappears after the calm. The man who fears he may lose his partner glosses over the facts, justifies his behavior, promises not to do it again, and repeatedly adopts seemingly normal behavior. He raises apparent repentance in the hope that the woman will never leave if she agrees to his demands.

Domestic violence is not unique to the underprivileged classes; it occurs in all social, economic, and cultural groups, at all ages, both in urban and rural areas, regardless of education, religion, or ethnicity.