Cycle of abuse

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This article is about the cycle of violence within one person's pattern of abuse. For a broader pattern of violence and intergenerational cycle of violence, see Cycle of violence.

The four phases of the Cycle of Abuse

The cycle of abuse is a social cycle theory developed in the 1970s by Lenore Walker to explain patterns of behavior in an abusive relationship.^[1]

Walker's theory rests on the idea that abusive relationships, once established, are characterized by a predictable repetitious pattern of abuse, whether emotional, psychological or physical, with psychological abuse nearly always preceding and accompanying physical abuse. Additionally, Walker suggested that sustained periods of living in such a cycle may lead to learned helplessness and battered person syndrome.

Initially, Walker proposed that the cycle of abuse described the controlling patriarchal behavior of men who felt entitled to abuse their wives to maintain control over them. Her terms "the battering cycle" and "battered woman syndrome" has since been largely eclipsed by "cycle of abuse" and "battered person syndrome," respectively, for many reasons: to maintain objectivity; because the cycle of abuse doesn't always lead to physical abuse; because symptoms of the syndrome have been observed in men and women, and are not confined to marriage and dating. Similarly, Dutton (1994)^[2] writes, "The prevalence of violence in homosexual relationships, which also appear to go through abuse cycles is hard to explain in terms of men dominating women."

The cycle of abuse concept is widely used in domestic violence programs, particularly in the United States. Critics have argued the theory is flawed as it does not apply as universally as Walker suggested, does not accurately or completely describe all abusive relationships, and may favor ideological presumptions over empirical data.^[3]

Phases of the cycle

The cycle usually goes in the following order, and will repeat until the conflict is stopped, usually by the survivor entirely abandoning the relationship.^[4] The cycle can occur hundreds of times in an abusive relationship, the total cycle taking anywhere from a few hours, to a year or more to complete. However, the length of the cycle usually diminishes over time so that the "reconciliation" and "calm" stages may disappear.

1: Tension building phase

This phase occurs prior to an overtly abusive act, and is characterized by poor communication, passive aggression, rising interpersonal tension, and fear of causing outbursts in one's partner. During this stage the survivor may attempt to modify his or her behavior to avoid triggering their partner's outburst.

2: Acting-out phase

Characterized by outbursts of violent, abusive incidents. During this stage the abuser attempts to dominate his/her partner (survivor), with the use of domestic violence.

3: Reconciliation/Honeymoon phase

Characterized by affection, apology, or, alternatively, ignoring the incident. This phase marks an apparent end of violence, with assurances that it will never happen again, or that the abuser will do his or her best to change. During this stage the abuser feels overwhelming feelings of remorse and sadness, or at least pretends to. Some abusers walk away from the situation with little comment, but most will eventually shower the survivor with love and affection. The abuser may use self-harm or threats of suicide to gain sympathy and/or prevent the survivor from leaving the relationship. Abusers are frequently so convincing, and survivors so eager for the relationship to improve, that survivors who are often worn down and confused by longstanding abuse, stay in the relationship.^[1]^[5]

Although it is easy to see the outbursts of the Acting-out Phase as abuse, even the more pleasant behaviours of the Honeymoon Phase perpetuates the abuse because the survivor then sees that the relationship isn't all bad.

4: Calm phase

During this phase (which is often considered an element of the honeymoon/reconciliation phase), the relationship is relatively calm and peaceable. However, interpersonal difficulties will inevitably arise, leading again to the tension building phase.

Critiques

Walker's cycle of abuse theory was regarded as a revolutionary and important concept in the study of abuse and interpersonal violence.^[3] However, subsequent researchers have occasionally critiqued Walker's methodology, preconceptions or findings.

Dutton and Golant^[3] agree that Walker's cycle of abuse accurately describes all cyclically abusive relationships they studied. Nonetheless, they also note that her initial research was based almost entirely on anecdotal data from a rather small set of women who were in violent relationships. Walker^[1] herself wrote, "These women were not randomly selected and they cannot be considered a legitimate data base from which to make specific generalizations."

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Walker, Lenore E. (1979) The Battered Woman. New York: Harper and Row.
↑ Dutton, Donald G. (1994). "Patriarchy And Wife Assault: The Ecological Fallacy". Violence and Victims 9 (2): 167–182.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dutton, Donald G. and Susan Golant. 1997. The Batterer: A Psychological Profile. 0465033881
↑ Bancroft, Lundy. Why does he do that? Inside the minds of angry and controlling men Berkley Publishing Group 2002 ISBN 0-399-14844-2
↑ Brewster, Susan Helping her get free Seal Press 2006 ISBN 1-58005-167-7

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Domestic violence

Overview

Outline
Epidemiology of domestic violence
Cycle of abuse
Conflict tactics scale
Domestic violence and pregnancy
Effects of domestic violence on children
Violence against women/Violence against men
Intervention
Women's shelter

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Economic abuse	Financial abuse

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Sexual abuse	Marital rape

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Combination	Abuse Battered person syndrome Birth control sabotage Bride-buying Common couple violence Elder abuse Power Reproductive coercion Stalking

Child related	Parental abuse by children Parental abuse of children Sibling abuse

Countries

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Media

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Publications	Contemporary Family Therapy Family Process Family Relations Journal of Family Issues Journal of Interpersonal Violence Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Violence Against Women

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Cycle of abuse

Phases of the cycle

1: Tension building phase

2: Acting-out phase

3: Reconciliation/Honeymoon phase

4: Calm phase

Critiques

See also

References

Further reading

Books

Academic journals

External links