The Cycle of Violence

An abusive relationship is not abusive at all times. It follows a three-phase cycle known as The Cycle of Violence.

A relationship starts in the honeymoon phase. Over time, tension starts building. Usually when the abuser feels that the victim is sufficiently "hooked" into the relationship, either through marriage, moving in together or getting pregnant, the abuse starts. The honeymoon phase is what "hooks" the victim back into the relationship and keeps the cycle moving. Over time the cycle reduces to just tension/abuse and the episodes of violence get more frequent and severe.

Characteristics of Victims:

Found in all socio-economic, educational, racial and age groups.
Many battered women report violence in family of origin.
Many report marrying young to escape violent homes.
Many, but not all, witnessed some form of abuse as children.
Low self-esteem. Question their right to have any better life than they presently have.
Underestimate themselves and believe they cannot do better.
Feel powerless and believe they have no choices.
Hopeless and immobilized by the abuser taking control and have lost the ability to make independent decisions and changes.
Depression, suicide, substance abuse and psychosomatic illnesses are behaviors observed with victims.
Lack of trust due to history of isolation and feelings of helplessness.
Chronic apprehension. Agitation and anxiety about routine decisions.
Unable to relax, disturbed sleeping patterns, always on guard.
Peacekeepers. Trying to keep the home calm.
Take blame.
Feel guilty because they disturb neighbors; their children have problems and feel they are responsible for the abuse.
Usually female, although not always.
Caregivers. Desire to nurture, rescue and take care of others.

NATIONAL STATISTICS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner. In the same year, 440 men were killed by an intimate partner (Bureau of Justice Statistics Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003).
According to estimates from the National Crime Victimization Survey, there were nearly 700,000 nonfatal violence victimizations committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends of the victims during 2001. out of this number, 85% were crimes against women. (U.S. Department of Justice, Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, March 1998).

Thirty seven percent of women who sought treatment in an emergency room for violence-related injuries were injured by a current or former intimate partner. (U.S. Department of Justice, Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, March 1998).
Abuse in relationships exists among all classes, races and cultural groups, although women between ages 16 and 24 are nearly three times more vulnerable to intimate partner violence (Intimate Partner Violence & Age of Victim, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1999).

A recent National Crime Victimization survey found that women were 6 times more than men to experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner. Intimate partners include current or former spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, dating partners, regardless of whether they are cohabiting or not. (Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Re-designed Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1998).

In a national study of college students, 27.5% of the women surveyed said that they had suffered rape or attempted rape at least once since age 14. Only 5% of those experiences were reported to the police. The term “hidden rape” has emerged because this survey and many other studies found that sexual assaults are seldom reported to the police. (Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control, 2003).

On September 17, 2008, seventy-eight percent of identified domestic violence programs in the United States participated in the 2008 National Census of Domestic Violence Services. See what domestic violence services were needed in your state that day.

The Link Between Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse and Mental Health in California

(These statistics are provided by California Partnership to end Domestic Violence)