Cycle of violence

The term cycle of violence refers to repeated acts of violence as a cyclical pattern, associated with high emotions and doctrines of retribution or revenge. The pattern, or cycle, repeats and can happen many times during a relationship. Each phase may last a different length of time and over time the level of violence may increase. It often refers to violent behavior learned as a child and then repeated as an adult, therefore continuing on in a perceived cycle. In the context of abusive personal relationships, such a cycle is also called a cycle of abuse.