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Phase 2: Battering Incident
In the second phase, the tension has reached a certain point and an explosion or fight will occur. This is usually when the physical violence occurs. He knows, or will learn, that his use of violence seems to decrease his stress and change his partner’s behavior. Either partner may initiate the acute battering phase. It is during this phase that law enforcement or EMS become involved. If there are serious injuries requiring medical care, they usually occur during this phase. Immediately following this phase, the batterer and the survivor may be amenable to intervention. She is hurt and frightened, and he often feels guilty, humiliated and ashamed.
Phase 3: Calm or Honeymoon
In the calm or “honeymoon” phase there is a perception of reconciliation and resolution. The man is usually contrite, offers excuses such as drinking, and promises that it will never happen again. This phase tends to be shorter than the tension phase. The honeymoon phase does not exist in all relationships, and in other relationships, decreases and disappears over time as the man’s power and control needs are achieved by increasing frequency and severity of the violence. The survivor is least likely to be amenable to intervention at this time, because it is the period when she receives the most rewards for being in the relationship. She is reminded of the earliest period of courtship, when the batterer behaved in a loving and nurturing manner with no observable violence. In contrast, the batterer may be more amenable to intervention at this time, because typically he is remorseful and wishes to keep his partner. Later in the phase, as soon as he believes he has again won over his partner, he is decreasingly amenable to intervention. During the height of this phase, both parties minimize the violence and may excuse, distort, or actually forget what happened.
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