What does the cycle of violence begin with after stage three?

The cycle of violence in the context of family violence typically consists of three stages: tension-building, the acute battering incident, and a period of calm or reconciliation after the incident. After the third stage, which is the period of calm, the cycle often begins anew with the first stage, which is the tension-building phase.

In this phase, there may be subtle signs of increasing tension or stress in the relationship, and the victim might begin to sense that something is wrong, even if no physical violence has yet occurred. This pattern illustrates how the cycle perpetuates itself, as it relies on the occurrence of repeated cycles of tension and violence while often leading victims to stay in the relationship due to the reconciliation period after each incident. Understanding this cycle is crucial for recognizing the dynamics of abusive relationships and the challenges faced by individuals trying to escape them.