In the cycle of violence, what tends to happen to the honeymoon phase over time?

• A. It becomes longer and more forgiving.
• B. It remains constant in duration.
• C. It shortens and may disappear as the abuser stops apologizing.
• D. It cycles into a different phase called the stabilization phase.

Answer: (C)

In the cycle of violence, the period after a violent incident—often called the honeymoon phase—is when the abuser expresses remorse, apologizes, and showers affection, making the survivor feel the relationship might return to normal. As cycles repeat, this hopeful period typically gets shorter and can even disappear. The reason is that the abuser’s excuses and promises to change become less credible or less necessary to regain control, so there’s less incentive to “make up” and rebuild trust. With apologies fading and coercive patterns intensifying, the time of relative calm shrinks and the cycle moves back toward tension and abuse more quickly. This pattern—that the honeymoon phase shortens and may vanish as apologies dwindle and control deepens—best explains how the dynamic tends to evolve.