What is the Cycle of Violence?

• A. A set of guidelines for safe caregiving
• B. A cyclical health problem consisting of four phases: tension building, incident of violence, reconciliation, and calm
• C. A linear sequence of events in therapy
• D. A hypothetical model for stress in women

Answer: (B)

The Cycle of Violence describes a recurring pattern in abusive relationships that repeats through four stages: tension-building, the abusive incident, reconciliation, and a calm period. In the tension-building phase, stress and irritability rise, often with minor arguments or escalating control. The incident of violence is the peak where abuse occurs. Afterward comes reconciliation, where the offender may apologize, promise to change, or minimize the harm, creating a sense of hope. Then appears a calm phase, a temporary lull when things seem normal or even loving, which can make the victim doubt the seriousness of the abuse and stay in the relationship. This pattern helps explain why abuse can feel cyclical and why safety planning and support are so important, as the cycle can repeat and the risk may persist even during the calm.

Other options do not fit because this describes a recurring, four-stage pattern in abusive dynamics, not a set of caregiving guidelines, a linear sequence in therapy, or a general model for stress in women.