The document describes the cycle of abuse that occurs in abusive relationships. It begins with a prompting event that the abuser interprets negatively, which leads to strong emotions and a reaction aimed at controlling the victim through actions like confrontation or assault. After the incident, the abuser may apologize or blame the victim, keeping the victim trapped in the cycle. The document lists resources for domestic violence victims and emphasizes that ending the cycle of abuse requires education and support for victims.

1. It’s never a one time event
THE CYCLE OF ABUSE

2. Abuse is never a one time event
 It starts with nothing and then there is some sort
of situation, stimulus, scenario
Prompting Event Prompting Event Interpretation
 A Prompting Event
Victim Abuser Abuser
 Then there is ansaw My girlfriend was thatmust have
My boyfriend interpretation of They Prompting
Event me talking to his talking to my best been talking about
best friend friend me
The milk in the The milk in the Someone did this;
fridge is empty fridge is empty I bet HE did

3. Abuse is never a one time event
 The interpretation of the Prompting Event
includes our emotions.
Prompting Prompting Interpretation Emotions Emotions
Event Victim Event Abuser Abuser Victim Abuser
My boyfriend My girlfriend They must Fear Anger
saw me talking was talking to have been
to his best my best friend talking about
friend me
The milk in the The milk in the Someone did Fear Anger
fridge is empty fridge is empty this; I bet HE
did

4. Abuse is never a one time event
 If one believes the interpretation and the
Prompting
Event
Prompting Interpretation Emotions
Event Abuser Victim Abuser
to control
emotions that come with itEmotions Reaction Reaction
a needVictim Abuser
VictimmayAbuser into play
come
My My They must Fear Anger Oh no. I am so
boyfriend girlfriend have been Holy Crap. mad I
saw me was talking about gotta put
talking to talking to me an end to
his best my best this
friend friend
The milk The milk Someone did Fear Anger Oh sh*t. It is all his
in the in the this; I bet HE She’s fault. I am
fridge is fridge is did going to gonna
empty empty yell at me give him
such a…

5. Abuse is never a one time event
 The goal of the abuser is to CONTROL
Prompting Interpretation Emotions Reaction Possible
Event Abuser Abuser Abuser Abuser Actions
Abuser
My girlfriend They must have Anger I am so mad I Confronts
girlfriend, cusses
was talking to been talking about gotta put an end her out; puts her
my best friend me to this down in front of her
friends; drags her
by the hand and
pushes her to a
second place,
possible assault
The milk in the Someone did this; I Anger It is all his fault. I Cusses him
fridge is empty bet HE did am gonna give out; puts him
him such a… down

6. Abuse is never a one time event
 And the Victim?
Prompting Interpretation Emotions Reaction Possible
Event Victim Victim Victim Victim Action
Victim
My boyfriend I’m gonna get Fear Oh no. Holy Crap he’s
saw me in trouble Crap. dragging me
talking to his again, cussing
best friend me out,
AHHHHHHHH
HHHHH!
The milk in I’m gonna hear Fear Oh sh*t. NO! Not
the fridge is it again again! Hey it’s
empty not my fault
but what does
he care??

7. Abuse is never a one time event
 UNTIL…
 Abuser sees the victim is not coming back out
of that hole.
 Abuser starts to feel bad and tries to reconcile
 “I’m sorry”
 “I’ll do better next time”
 Gives presents, does something nice
 Or Worse: ABUSER BLAMES VICTIM

8. Abuse is never a one time event
 THE RESULT? PAIN.
 Victim: “I feel like a failure”
 Abuser “Now THAT will teach them not to
mess with me”
 Victim: “I need to hide”
 Abuser “GO AHEAD. Crawl into that little hole”

9. Abuse is never a one time event
 Abuse can be a vicious cycle.
Phase 1: Tension
Building - Prompting
Event, emotion
Phase 2: Incident -
Phase 4: Calm – or Reaction, action to
semblance of Prompting Event
Phase 3:
Reconciliation –
apologies, excuses

10. Don’t let yourself be part of that
cycle

11. You’re not alone.
Center On Halsted
www.centeronhalsted.org - 3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago - (773) 472-6469
West Side Domestic Abuse Project
maps.google.com - 813 S Western Ave # 1, Chicago - (773) 862-5408
Primo Center For Women-Children
www.primocenter.org - 4241 West Washington Boulevard, Chicago - (773) 722-0544
Weitzman Center
maps.google.com - 203 N Wabash Ave # 2000, Chicago - (312) 444-1777
You Can Make It
maps.google.com - 6012 South Honore Street, Chicago - (773) 424-7211
Rainbow House
www.rainbow-house.org - 4149 West 26th Street, Chicago - (773) 521-1815
Connections for Abused Women and their Children
cawc.org/
Victims have a right to violence free lives. Domestic violence is not the victim's fault. CAWC is here to help.
Shelter, advocacy, support and outreach. Rebuilding ...

12. You’re not alone.
Life Span - Safety. Accountability. An End to Violence. www.life-span.org/
 Life Span is an organization committed to the cessation of domestic violence and to the
immediate relief of those who suffer from its consequences. ...
Moore Place mooreplace.net - Chicago - (773) 616-0451
City of Chicago :: Division on Domestic Violence
www.cityofchicago.org/domesticviolence
The Division on Domestic Violence in the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services and other victim
serving agencies in Chicago are important in the ...
City of Chicago :: Domestic Violence Help Line
www.cityofchicago.org/...violence/.../domestic_violencehelpline.html
Assistance and support for victims of domestic violence and concerned others ...
DHS: Domestic Violence Agencies by City
www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31886
Chicago, IL 60651. Hotline: (773) 278-4566. TTY Hotline: (773) 278-4114. E-Mail: cawcadmin@mindspring.com.
Web Site: cawc.org. Domestic Violence Legal ...
Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women´s Network
www.batteredwomensnetwork.org/
How Domestic Violence Affects Me. Follow Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network on Facebook Chicago

13. You’re not alone.
Domestic Violence
https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/.../Domestic%20Violence
As such, Chicago Police Department members treat domestic violence incidents in the same
professional manner as all other crimes and requests for police ...
Illinois Domestic Violence - Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT FOR CHICAGO. 555 West Harrison Chicago, IL 60607-4313 (312) 325-
9500. Both criminal and civil domestic violence cases ...
Additional Domestic Violence Services by County:
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/dvsa/violence_victims.html
Additional information: Primary clients are Hispanic victims of domestic violence. Chicago Abused
Women Coalition. Greenhouse P.O. Box 477916. Chicago, IL ...
Apna Ghar, Inc.
www.apnaghar.org/
Apna Ghar (Our Home) provides culturally-appropriate, multilingual services, including emergency
shelter, to survivors of domestic abuse with a primary focus ...

14. You are not alone.
 TOGETHER WE CAN END THE PAIN.
 EDUCATE.
 ALLEVIATE.
 WE ARE HERE.
 END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. TODAY.