Definition The cycle of abuse is a social cycle theory developed in 1979 by Lenore E. Walker to explain pattern of behavior in an abusive relationship (Wikipedia)
Cycle of Abuse is divided in 4 parts
Tension Building
Incident (Acute violence)
Reconciliation
Calm
Tensions Building
Tension build over common domestic issues such as children, money, and so on.
Abuser starts to ignore or frustrate to victim.
Victim starts to terrify from abuser
Even though victim tries to control the situation by pleasing the abuser, they will not stop the violence
Incident (Acute violence)
Any type of abuse occurs
Physical
Sexual
Psychological
Economic
Reconciliation
Abuser begins to feel guilty, regret, fear that victim's report
Abuser apologies for violence, and promises that it will not happen again
Abuser tries to hurt himself or herself to gain victim's sympathy
Victim forgives abuser with love and affection because abuser is intimate partner
Calm
Calm phase is considered a honeymoon phase or reconciliation phase