Cycle of violence

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

The term cycle of violence refers to repeated and dangerous acts of violence as a cyclical pattern,^[1] associated with high emotions and doctrines of retribution or revenge.^{[citation needed]} The pattern, or cycle, repeats and can happen many times during a relationship.^[1] Each phase may last a different length of time and over time the level of violence may increase.^{[citation needed]}

It often refers to violent behavior learned as a child and then repeated as an adult, therefore continuing on in a perceived cycle.^[2]

Cycle of violence within a relationship

A cycle of abuse generally follows the following pattern:^[1]

Abuse – The abuser initiates aggressive, verbal or physical abuse, designed to control and oppress the victim.
Guilt – The abuser feels guilty for inflicting abusive behavior, primarily out of a concern of being found guilty of abuse rather than feelings of sympathy for the victim.
Excuses – Rationalization of the behavior, including blame and excuses.
"Normal" behavior – The abuser regains personal control, creates a peaceful phase in an attempt to make the victim feel in the relationship.
Fantasy and planning – thinking of what the victim has done wrong how he or she will be punished and developing a plan to realize the fantasy.
Set-up – the plan is "put in motion."

A cyclical nature of domestic violence is most prevalent in intimate terrorism (IT), which involve a pattern of ongoing control using emotional, physical and other forms of domestic violence and is what generally leads victims, who are most often women, to women's shelters. It is what was traditionally the definition of domestic violence and is generally illustrated with the "Power and Control Wheel"^[3] to illustrate the different and inter-related forms of abuse. Intimate terrorism is different from situational couple violence, which are isolated incidents of varying degrees of intensity.^[4]

A general, intricate and complicated cycle of traumatic violence and healing map was developed by Olga Botcharova when she worked at the Center for International Studies.^[5]

Intergenerational cycles of violence

Intergenerational cycle of violence – violence that is passed from parent to child, or sibling to sibling.^[6]

Children exposed to domestic violence are likely to develop behavioral problems, such as regressing, exhibiting out of control behavior,^[7] and imitating behaviors. Children may think that violence is an acceptable behavior of intimate relationships and become either the abused or the abuser.^[8]

An estimated 1/5 to 1/3 of teenagers subject to viewing domestic violence situations experience teen dating violence, regularly abusing or being abused by their partners verbally, mentally, emotionally, sexually and/or physically. Thirty to 50% of dating relationships can exhibit the same cycle of escalating violence in their marital relationships.^[9]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The cycle of violence. Domestic Violence and Abuse, Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships. HELPGUIDE.org. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
↑ Fagan, A. A. (2005). The Relationship Between Adolescent Physical Abuse and Criminal Offending: Support for an Enduring and Generalized Cycle of Violence. Journal of Family Violence. 20(5):279-290.
↑ Power and Control Wheel, National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
↑ A Sociologist’s Perspective on Domestic Violence, A Conversation with Michael Johnson, Ph.D. Theodora Ooms, interviewer following May 2006 conference. Center for Law and Social Policty (CLASP). Pages 2-4. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
↑ Nancy Good Sider, MSW. At The Fork in the Road: Trauma Healing: Trauma Healing Map. Journey Toward Forgiveness. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
↑ Intergenerational Cycle Of Abuse AbusiveLove.com. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
↑ The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
↑ Reiss, Albert J.; Roth, Jeffrey A.; Miczek, Klaus A. (1993). Understanding and Preventing Violence: Social influences. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Pages 194-195 (as viewed in books.google.com) ISBN 0-309-05080-4.
↑ Sexual Assault Survivor Services (SASS) Facts about domestic violence. (1996)]

Cycle of violence

Cycle of violence within a relationship

Intergenerational cycles of violence

See also

References

Further reading

Books

Academic journals