| According to Dr. Lenore E. Walker, a prominent | | | | of self-esteem, women feel they are the |
| expert on battered women, a woman must | | | | peacekeepers in a relationship, adverse financial |
| experience at least two complete battering cycles | | | | consequences, Threats from the batterer to kill self |
| before she can be labeled a "battered woman". The | | | | or children, learned helplessness. Many of these |
| cycle has three phases. First the tension-building | | | | women still love the abuser even after they leave, |
| phase, followed by the explosion or acute battering | | | | by whatever methods. But they must understand |
| incident, then the calm, loving respite- often referred | | | | that in order for the battering spouse to change he |
| to as the honeymoon phase. Battered woman | | | | must go through a two step process to get help for |
| syndrome describes a set of symptoms found in | | | | his abusiveness. First he must suffer negative |
| woman living in battering relationships. The four | | | | consequences for the violent behavior and then he |
| general characteristics are: | | | | must go through specialized spouse abuse counseling. |
| - The woman believe it’s her fault | | | | If drugs or alcohol were involved he must also be |
| - The woman’s inability to place the responsibility | | | | treated for the addiction. The batterer must believe |
| of the violence elsewhere | | | | and accept these five concepts: |
| - The woman fears for her life and/or her | | | | 1. Accept responsibility for the abuse |
| children’s lives. | | | | 2. Understand the use of abuse to control partner |
| - The woman has the belief that the abuser is | | | | 3. Understand the level of emotional dependency on |
| omnipresent and omniscient. | | | | the part of the abuser |
| Women need to know that according to research | | | | 4. Gain the ability to recognize low levels of anger |
| spousal abuse does not typically stem from a | | | | and to use anger management techniques |
| problem with the relationship, but instead begins with | | | | 5. Have empathy for the victim |
| the man’s emotional insecurities, low self-esteem | | | | Once outside of the abusive relationship a woman |
| and abusive behaviors witnessed in his childhood. | | | | can overcome the feelings of inadequacy and |
| There are many reasons a woman would stay in an | | | | helplessness that were brainwashed into her while |
| abusive relationship. Among them: reinforcement | | | | being in an abusive relationship. |
| during the honeymoon stage after being beaten, loss | | | | |