Cycle & Violence Wheels

Cycle of Domestic Violence

Once begun, the Cycle of Domestic Violence increases in frequency and severity over time. The Cycle shows how domestic violence often becomes a pattern made up of three stages:

• Tension-Building: criticism, yelling, swearing, using angry gestures, coercion, threats
• Violence: physical and sexual attacks and threats
• Seduction (Reconciliation, Calm): apologies, blaming, promises to change, gifts

The cycle of Domestic Violence also explains how three dynamics, love, hope, and fear, keep the cycle in motion and make it hard to end a violent relationship. Love for your partner, the relationship has its good points, it's not all bad. Hope that it will change, the relationship didn't begin like this Fear that the threats to kill you or your family will become a reality.

Violence Wheel

A wheel helps link the different behaviors that together form a pattern of violence. It shows the relationship as a whole and how each seemingly unrelated behavior is an important part in an overall effort to control someone. The wheel shows power and control in the center, spokes are economic control, verbal abuse, intimidation, coercion, Abusing Authority, minimizing, denying and blaming, using lover ones, isolation.

Non-Violence Wheel

A Non-Violence Wheel offers a view of a relationship that is based on equality and non-violence. The Non-Violence Wheel is also helpful in setting goals and boundaries in personal relationships.

This wheel shows equality at the center and the spokes are shared responsibility, fairness, trust and support, honesty, economic partnership, non-threatening behavior, responsible parent, respect.