Why do victims stay in abusive relationships?
There are many reasons why individuals stay in abusive relationships. The typical cycle of abuse, which begins with a tension-building stage and erupts into a major episode of violence, is more often than not followed by a period of remorse, or a honeymoon stage. In this stage the abuser promises that the violence will never happen again. He may be on his best behavior and treat the victim with kindness and generosity. A major reason why women stay in abusive relationships is the false hope that the partner has really changed. Unfortunately, the cycle is likely to repeat itself. Several other factors influence the victims decision to stay in an abusive relationship. A womans attempts to leave may result in more violent attacks. Or she and her children may be financially dependent on the abusive partner. Plus, the victim is likely to suffer from a low sense of self-worth making an independent move unlikely. Some women may also have strong religious or cultural beliefs that prevent them
