In cycle of violence theory, which phase directly follows tension building?

In cycle of violence theory, which phase directly follows tension building?

• A. Honeymoon
• B. Acute battering
• C. Escalation
• D. Resolution

Answer: (B)

The phase after tension building is the acute battering phase, where the built-up stress erupts into an actual violent incident. This is the moment of concrete harm—physical abuse, threats, or severe aggression—driven by the exertion of control and the need to intimidate. The intensity peaks here as power dynamics are actively enforced. After this outburst, many patterns show a brief honeymoon period with apologies or promises to change, which temporarily lowers tension and resets the cycle. The other terms describe different aspects of the cycle: escalation refers to the overall process of increasing intensity over time, not the immediate next step, and resolution would come later, after the cycle has progressed through the honeymoon phase.

The phase after tension building is the acute battering phase, where the built-up stress erupts into an actual violent incident. This is the moment of concrete harm—physical abuse, threats, or severe aggression—driven by the exertion of control and the need to intimidate. The intensity peaks here as power dynamics are actively enforced.

After this outburst, many patterns show a brief honeymoon period with apologies or promises to change, which temporarily lowers tension and resets the cycle. The other terms describe different aspects of the cycle: escalation refers to the overall process of increasing intensity over time, not the immediate next step, and resolution would come later, after the cycle has progressed through the honeymoon phase.