Domestic violence
                           - a 3-phase cycle

Repeated violence tends to follow a three-phase cycle.

The cycle can happen hundreds of times in an abusive relationship taking anywhere from a few hours to a year or more to complete.

It is important to remember that not all domestic violence relationships fit the cycle.

Domestic and family violence can include the following types of abuse:

1. The Tension Building phase usually involves relatively minor incidents including slapping, verbal and/or psychological abuse. Tension increases as does fear of the perpetrator.
   
   

           This may be the time when a victim may seek help through law
           enforcement agencies only to be told nothing can be done until
           violence occurs.

           The victim may:

1. 1.Attempt to keep peace by nurturing or staying out of the batterer's way
   
   

2. 2.Control or manipulate the environment to prevent an increased intensity of violence
   
   

3. 3.Minimise, trivialise or deny that violence has or may occur
   
   

4. 4.Covering up for her partner by excusing his behaviour or hiding evidence
   
   

5. 5.Begin to withdraw emotionally from overwhelming stressincluding swearing and continual humiliation and verbal attacks that focus on intelligence, sexuality, body image or capacity as a parent and spouse.
   
   
   

6. During the Explosion phase, a violent episode occurs which may become physical - often causing injury and sometimes resulting in death.
   

           This phase of the cycle is usually the shortest tending to last from a
           few minutes to 24 hours.

           The victim may:

1. 1.Feel a complete loss of control
   
   

2. 2.Feel emotionally trapped
   
   

3. 3.Wait to seek medical treatment if s/he chooses to go at all
   
   

4. 4.Not experience the effects of the trauma for some time
   
   

5. 5.Not trust law enforcement for fear that their involvement will further enrage their batterer - may even defend the batterer to police including driving dangerously; destruction of property; abuse of pets in front of family members, making threats regarding child custody, asserting that the police and justice system will not assist, support or believe the victim; or threatening to ‘out’ the person.
   
   
   

6. The home environment during the Honeymoon period tends to become tranquil, maybe even pleasant.
   
   

           This may be the longest phase early in a relationship but, often, as
           time goes on, the ‘honeymoon’ phase tends to become shorter and
           shorter with, eventually, the tension phase beginning again almost
           immediately.

           The victim may:

1. 1.Have increased hope that her perpetrator will change
   
   

2. 2.Experience the illusion of well-being
   
   

3. 3.Believe her perpetrator's promises
   
   

4. 4.Feel responsible for perpetrator's wellbeing