Domestic Violence

Red Flags To Consider
	Common Characteristics Of A Batterer

Intimate Partner Abuse
Inside the Home
	Generational Effects Of Violence

Cycle Of Violence
Power & Control
Legal Issues
Important Facts
	Bibliography & Web Links

Community Resources

	What Do I Say & Do When Someone Says They Have Been Abused?

	Do's & Dont's When Responding To Families Experiencing Domestic Violence

	Men Standing With Women As Advocates

	Domestic Violence In The Work Place

	Employees Work To End Domestic Violence

	Employers Work To End Domestic Violence

Cycle Of Violence

Phase II

Violent Incident

During a Violent Incident , the abuser uses physical and emotional abuse like pushing, grabbing, hitting, kicking, throwing things, or destroying property to control and humiliate the victim. The violent incident may be strictly emotional abuse at some times, but the victim recognizes the situation as distinct from the tension-building.

Phase I

Tension Building Phase

Phase III

Honeymoon Phase

During the Tension-Building Phase , a victim may find herself "walking on eggshells" to try to avoid making the abuser mad. It may be a time of increasing use of bad language or threats. The children may notice that there is lots of tension in the home and behave differently as well.

During the Honeymoon Phase , the abuser may apologize for the abuse, saying that it would never happen again. He may offer gifts like flowers or take the family to dinner together. The abuser may behave differently for a while, but all too soon the tension may begin to build again.

This information draws upon the work of Dr. Lenore Walker, including The Battered Woman , Harper & Row, 1980.