There is a pattern. A very predictable pattern. It’s called The Cycle of Abuse. Understanding how these toxic relationships operate and the early danger signs is vital to educating and empowering women to protect themselves from becoming a victim of domestic violence. 

JUN 29, 2019

defense divas exposing domestic violence patterns

Understanding Domestic Violence Patterns

🎯 Every year American women report over 2 MILLION injuries from intimate partner violence.

🎯 1 in 3 women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse, boyfriend or intimate partner at some point in her life.

🎯 Domestic Violence Hotlines receive an average 20,000 calls a day.


Why don’t they just leave the toxic and abusive relationship? Why do they continue putting their lives in danger? In order to answer these questions, you need to understand the cycle of abuse.

“The Cycle of Abuse is eerily predictable in domestic violence according to Dr. Lenore E. Walker ”

THE CYCLE OF ABUSE

The Cycle of Abuse model was introduced to the psychology world by Dr. Lenore E. Walker in 1979 and has become the most established model to explain the predictable way violence in a relationship plays out more often than not.  

defense divas cycle of abuse domestic violence pattern lenore walker

1. TENSION BUILDING PHASE

Have you ever had the feeling that you pissed someone off and weren’t quite sure exactly what you had done, but you could “feel” their irritation? That unspoken tension that exists between the two of you?

This is the first stage of conflict. In healthy relationships, this is easily resolved by sitting down and communicating about your feelings at this point. However, in an abusive relationship, things look quite different.

The “trigger” which starts the tension is often either 1) something relatively minor you have said or done which the abuser actually uses as an excuse to allow themselves to lose control or 2) a previous and unresolved issue that is being re-cycled to repeat the Cycle of Abuse by the abuser.

The difference between a healthy and abusive relationship at this stage, boils down to one big thing: a complete and total breakdown of communication.
defense divas cycle of abuse tension building phase indicators
Ever argue with someone who would rather rehash the past than address the matter at hand? How about the person who always turns the argument around and [somehow] makes it all your fault?

Ever feel like you have to walk on egg shells around certain people because you never know if you’re going to say the wrong thing? How about the person who likes to push your buttons until you snap first? These are good examples of how the tension building phase of the Cycle of Abuse may play out in a real-life situation.

If a woman has been previously abused, she is often very attuned to this phase and the “fight or flight” instinct may have already kicked in.

2. INCIDENT PHASE

Once tension has been created, the abuser has found an excuse to “lash out” and will progress into the Incident Phase. Typically, when the rage hits- everything blows up quickly. Incidents that occur can range from verbal attacks to physical violence.
defense divas cycle of abuse incident phase indicators

“Research has shown, the average domestic violence survivor experiences violence 7 times before leaving her abuser.”

Remember, domestic violence is about power and control. Verbally beating you down to humiliation or physically beating you into submission are both attempts by the abuser to regain power and control over the situation.

3. RECONCILIATION PHASE

After the abuse has occurred and the “tension” has been released for the abuser, the relationship moves into the Reconciliation Phase.

In this phase, your abuser seems truly regretful for his outburst and the damage created during the Incident Phase. Often because the abuser is afraid of the consequences of their actions, they find a way to reconcile. But it’s a jacked-up way!

✔️ Fearful now that you may leave him, the abuser may apologize and show remorse.
✔️ He may blame something else such as work stress or being under a lot of pressure in order to validate their violent outburst.
✔️ May tell you that it will never happen again.
✔️ He might manipulate the situation to the point of justifying his actions and making you feel like it was all your fault.
✔️ He may even deny the abuse happened at all, despite the black eye on your face.
✔️ Gifts from the abuser are common in this phase of the abuse cycle.
defense divas cycle of abuse reconciliation phase indicators

The key to the Reconciliation Phase is understanding the motives of the abuser. It has nothing to do with making things right with you. It’s all about making it right with himself- His need to reconcile the horrible actions they just committed with the conscience they now feel, after their rage.

4. CALM  PHASE

The calm phase (also called the Honeymoon Phase) is the last phase of the abuse cycle. Everything returns to normal and it’s as if the abuse never happened. This is the time when you, as the victim, my start second guessing yourself and making excuses for his behavior. 


Here are some examples of things that occur in the Calm Phase of the abuse cycle.

✔️ Your partner may be extra attentive and “the good man” you imagined him to be.

✔️ The abuser is typically on his very best behavior during this phase.

✔️ It’s common for victims to begin second guessing their own feelings, and making excuses for the abuser’s behavior.

✔️ You may convince yourself that this was a one-time incident.

✔️ You may decide to put it behind you and move forward with even more conviction to make the relationship work or to “fix him”.

You may seek out a professional therapist for couples counselling (and he may agree to go initially!)

✔️ The relationship seems almost perfect.

defense divas cycle of abuse calm phase indicators

Unfortunately, if the root problem: The abuser’s need for power and control over the relationship isn’t addressed and healed- the Cycle of Abuse will repeat. Research has shown, the average domestic violence survivor experiences violence 7 times before leaving her abuser.


Here are some of the ways that an abuser may try to gain power and control over you in a toxic relationship. Do any of these look familiar? If so, seek professional guidance on how to exit the relationship safely. The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the victim is planning to leave. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence can guide you in the safest way to do so.


For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

METHODS USED TO GAIN POWER & CONTROL

USING INTIMIDATION

· Intimidating looks, actions or gestures

· Destroying your property

· Abusing pets

· Displaying weapons


USING ISOLATION

· Isolation can also take the form of a complete lack of privacy and personal boundaries.

· Controlling who your friends are

· Checking your text messages or phone log

· Limiting her outside involvement

· Selling her on moving away from her network of family and/or friends.


USING YOUR CHILDREN

· Making her feel guilty about her children.

· Involving the children in arguments

· Using the children to relay messages

· Threatening to take the children if she leaves him.


USING FINANCES

· Causing her to lose her job

· Preventing her from keeping or getting a job.

· Giving her an allowance.

· Making her ask for money.

· Taking her money.

· Intentionally keeping her in the dark about family finances and income.


USING EMOTIONAL ABUSE

· Gas lighting to get a reaction from you

· Derogatory comments on your physical appearance

· Making jokes about your intelligence.


USING MANIPULATION

· Making her think she’s crazy

· Twisting the abuse around to make it out to be all her fault.

· Flat out denial that the abuse happened.

· Shifting responsibility.

· Withholding a sincere and authentic apology as a second form of further abuse.


USING MALE PRIVILEGE

· Making all the big decisions without consulting her.

· Master of the Castle attitude

· Treating her like his servant.


USING THREATS/EXTORTION

· Making threats to do something to hurt her.

· Holding something over her head to keep her from reporting the abuse.

· Making her drop charges.

· Making her do illegal things that can be used for extortion later to keep her under his control.

· Threatening to child protective services on her if she leaves.

IMPORTANT STUFF

We cannot stress this enough: If you see any of the above tactics playing out in your relationship, there is help available. Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries. This tells us that the statistical numbers, as shocking and horrific as they seem, are actually even higher than what is reported.


The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the victim is trying to leave the attacker. Seek professional guidance on the safest process for your specific situation and involve the police to ensure a safe exit strategy.


Protect yourself today from domestic violence. At Defense Divas®, we offer a diva-fantastic selection of self-defense products for women, including Bulletproof Clothing, Backpacks & Accessories, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays, TASER® devices, Concealed Carry Purses, and more.

Copyright©2019 All rights reserved. This article or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

Fast Shipping!

All orders ship within 24 hours that are placed Sunday-Friday. Orders placed on Saturday ship on Monday.

Secure Checkout!

Feel confident in your purchase and your personal data. PCI Compliant.

Female Owned Small Business

Women empower women. Shop female. Shop small. Thank you for your support!

Copyright 2022 Defense Divas®

FOLLOW US!