Victim's Program
Cycle of Violence
TENSION PHASE
May last days, weeks or months
Stress builds
Communication breaks down
Victim senses growing danger
Minor violence/abuse occurs
Incidents occur more often and are more intense
Family denies, minimizes, and blames external factors
CRISIS PHASE
May last a few hours or several days
Anxiety is extremely high, explosive, and unpredictable
Major uncontrolled violence occurs, serious injuries, even death
Abuser blames victim
Victim believes escape is impossible
Victim may escape, but returns when crisis is over
Victim may detach from others and/or collapse emotionally
Intervention by a third party (police, child, neighbor, etc.) or recognition of damage done ends this phase
HONEYMOON
May last days or weeks
The family is in shock initially
Abuser says sorry, seeks forgiveness
The abuser tries to make it up to the victim
The victim accepts the presents and the promises to never repeat the abuse
Abuser seeks passion with partner
Fed by victim's need to trust or "fix" the partner
CALM PHASE
May last days, weeks or months
Family welcomes a return to normal
Abuse is minimized or denied
Family wants to believe abuse won't happen again
Children become caretakers to 'keep the peace'
Can become boring to those seeking excitement
CONSEQUENCES
Results of the crisis/abusive incident
Without consequences abusers will not change
Lack of consequences may shorten or erase honeymoon & calm phases
Examples: Arrest/jail, batterer intervention program, victim's injuries/medical treatment, victim leaving, frightened children, DSS involvement
What consequences did you or your partner experience after the abusive incident that brought you to this program?
TRIGGERS
Change calm into tension
Increase tension
Problems that increase stress
Examples: loss of job, sick children, unexpected bill, in-law issues
What are triggers in your relationship?
MINIMIZATION
Verbally or mentally shrinking the severity of abuse
Brushing off past abuse as unimportant
Examples: "I just pushed a little", "I didn't mean to", "It wasn't that bad"
What have you or your partner said that has minimized the abuse?
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