The Cycle of Violence (Walker's Model)

The Phases of the Cycle and the Escalation of Tension

To understand the permanence of the victim in an abusive relationship, it is essential to demystify the idea that violence is a static and constant state of aggression.

On the contrary, domestic violence operates under a cyclical and repetitive pattern, conceptualized by Lenore Walker, that traps the victim in an emotional roller coaster.

The cycle does not begin with the blow, but with the Tension Accumulation Phase, where the aggressor is irritable, silent or critical, and communication is cut off.

In this stage, the victim desperately tries to pacify the environment, "walking on eggshells" and indulging in everything to avoid the outburst, living in a state of extreme anxiety.

Inevitably, the tension leads to the Acute Explosion Phase, the briefest but most dangerous episode where extreme physical, sexual or verbal violence occurs.

After the discharge, the Honeymoon Phase (or simulated repentance) ensues, where the aggressor asks for forgiveness, promises to change, gives gifts and is charming. It is crucial to understand that violence is progressive; it is never static.

A vital premise in early detection is to identify that physical aggression toward people is often preceded by violence against the environment.

If a partner punches a wall, breaks a door, smashes a cell phone or kicks a table during an argument, he or she is "rehearsing" violence against the victim's body.

Forensic experts warn that hitting inanimate objects is the immediate preliminary step to hitting a partner.

This lack of emotional management and the need to vent anger physically demonstrate an inability to control that will inevitably cross the line into physical harm to family members.

Over time, the calm or "Honeymoon" phase shortens until it disappears, leaving the victim trapped in a continuous loop of tension and explosion without respite.

Learned Helplessness and Intermittent Reinforcement

Prolonged exposure to this cycle generates a psychological state known as "learned helplessness."

After multiple failed attempts to defend, reason, or flee that resulted in further punishment, the victim assumes that he or she has no control over his or her fate and stops responding, even when presented with real opportunities to escape.

This paralysis is not a sign of consent, but an adaptive survival response to the perception that any action is futile.

The aggressor reinforces this by systematically stripping the victim of her tools of autonomy, telling her that she is useless or incapable of surviving on her own. In addition, the mechanism of intermittent reinforcement operates.

If the aggressor were cruel 100% of the time, the victim would leave. What consolidates the traumatic bond is the unpredictable delivery of affection or breadcrumbs.

By alternating harsh punishments with random rewards (a day of kindness, an unexpected gift), the victim's brain releases dopamine at the unexpected reward, creating a literal biochemical addiction.

The victim remains in the relationship like a compulsive gambler in front of a slot machine, enduring continuous losses while waiting for the next emotional "prize," unaware that the calm phase will be shorter and shorter and the violence more and more severe.

Summary

To understand why the victim remains, it is vital to understand that violence is cyclical. It begins with the Build-up of Tension, where the victim lives anxiously trying to please the aggressor to avoid the outburst.

Inevitably, the tension drifts into the Acute Explosion, the moment of physical or sexual aggression. After the attack, the "Honeymoon" arrives, where the aggressor asks for forgiveness and simulates changes to regain trust.

It is crucial to note that the violence is progressive and usually starts against objects or the environment. Over time, the phase of calm and remorse disappears, leaving the victim trapped in a continuous loop of terror.