Cycle of violence

The cycle of violence, also known as the cycle of abuse, is a social theory used to explain the behaviors observed in a sustained abusive relationship. The theory is most often described as having three distinct phases that occur in a cycle. The cycle begins with an increase in tension within the relationship. This is followed by an acute episode of physical or emotional abuse. The final phase sees a de-escalation of tension and abuse, after which the cycle may begin again. Although many researchers and psychologists utilize the cycle of violence theory when describing patterns of abuse, some scholars believe the theory does not account for many factors involved in abusive relationships.

Background

In many cases of domestic abuse, an abused individual remains in an abusive relationship after the initial violent act. The abused person endures repeated acts of violence against them on numerous occasions and, despite the harm that comes to them, continues to stay with the abuser. Researchers have examined the reasons why an individual stays in an abusive relationship for many years. Such a decision is considered illogical from an outside perspective. Psychologists have developed several theories to explain such behavior. Factors that may contribute to a person's decision to stay in an abusive relationship include self-blame, denial, devotion to the institution of marriage, feelings of responsibility to the abuser, or protection of children.

Domestic abuse was largely ignored for much of human history. Widespread political action against such situations in countries like the United States did not emerge until the late nineteenth century. Psychological theories relating to violence and abuse in a domestic setting did not emerge until the mid- to late twentieth century. During this period, psychological studies began focusing on victims of crime and how victimization happens.

Psychologist Lenore Walker introduced one of the first psychological theories that attempted to explain a person's reasoning for remaining in an abusive relationship. In 1979, Walker interviewed 1,500 battered women from various backgrounds and asked them to recall four battering incidents in their lives. Walker's goal was to better understand battered women's behaviors within an abusive relationship. Half of the participants were recruited from prison and jails, and the remaining women were recruited through advertising or from mental health facilities, outpatient family centers, and other sources. The study found that a majority of the women interviewed experienced battery in their childhood homes. It also discovered that many women experienced similar forms of physical and mental abuse.

The analysis concluded that a significant relationship existed between childhood abuse and partner abuse in adulthood. The data from the study also were analyzed through a separate theoretical lens. Walker observed that a large percentage of the battered women described their relationships with their spouses in a similar way. She began to identify a cyclical pattern of actions and behaviors within these relationships. She later came to identify this pattern as the cycle theory of violence. Many psychologists utilized the theory in the following years, making some modifications to account for both male and female victims. Critics found the cycle of violence theory to be flawed, however. It was not consistent with many women's experiences of abuse and did not explain why these explosions of rage were committed only against an intimate partner.

Overview

Despite its varied usage, the cycle of violence theory involved the same cycle of distinct phases that led to repeated abuse. Walker's model identified three separate phases, though later models incorporated other phases into the cycle. Walker's cycle begins with the tension-building phase, which is accompanied by a growing awareness of imminent danger. The second phase is the battering incident itself. This phase is followed by a period often referred to as the honeymoon phase.

In the first phase, the abusive partner's behavior becomes tense and irritable. This behavior gradually intensifies, and the victim usually is subjected to minor acts of physical and emotional abuse, such as verbal humiliation, pushing, shaking, or other aggressive displays. The violence against the victim is not extreme, and the victim often attempts to placate the abuser to curb further aggravation. The victim's calming strategy is effective at first, which makes them believe that the behavior can be controlled. Depending on the victim's background, the rationalization of an abuser's behavior can be a product of learned helplessness, a behavior that results from repeated exposure to abuse. When a person experiences prolonged abuse, they may fail to learn how to address and escape such abuse. Learned helplessness allows the cycle of violence to continue for long periods.

As the tension-building phase continues to escalate, the victim's fear grows, and placating the abuser becomes impossible. Phase two occurs when this built-up tension explodes in an uncontrollable burst of anger and violent actions. In some cases, the victim is subjected only to a raging barrage of verbal abuse. In other cases, the abuser unleashes both verbal and physical abuse. The victim tries to protect themself from injury. Severe injury can occur during an outburst, and many victims find themselves hospitalized after the fact. Once the battering has ceased, a sharp drop in tension is observable in the abuser.

The decrease in tension marks the beginning of phase three of the cycle of violence. During this phase, the batterer often apologizes repeatedly. The abuser may even try to help the victim recover from any injuries in the immediate aftermath of the outburst. In the weeks after the violent incident, the abuser will often make promises to the victim or buy them many gifts to demonstrate affection. The abuser sometimes states their intention to change and never be violent again. The victim is eager to believe such promises, particularly in the early stages of the relationship. This phase is often called the honeymoon phase of the cycle, as the abuser will frequently employ the courtship strategies that they originally used to attract the victim into the relationship. The honeymoon phase does not have to involve displays of affection, however. In some instances, the third phase of the cycle is simply the end of the abuse and the absence of tension. If the tension and sense of danger do not cease following the violent event, a lethal incident may be imminent.

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