Relationship Abuse Theories Essay

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People think it is so difficult to leave an abusive relationship. Relationship abuse is a recurring pattern where one person in the relationship abuses to get what they want so they feel they have control over the other person. There are many forms of relationship abuse that abusers use to gain a sense of dominance over their partner. Relationship abuse is a mind game, it can be hard to recognize and it has a lot of effects on people who go through it. Relationship abuse is wrong and needs to be stopped.
Domestic violence is an intentional pattern of behavior used to have power and control over a romantic partner or even a family member. More commonly it is over a romantic partner. Many different types of abuse can be used on people. Abusive …show more content…

The first theory is called the Codependency Theory. This theory suggests that once a victim is abused, they become attached and dependent on their abuser. This is why they feel they can not leave the relationship. The next theory is called the Social Learning Theory. The Social Learning Theory states that the reason men became abusive is that they saw a pattern of abuse in their families. It also states that some women seek out abusive men because they witnessed their mothers being abused. Then there is what is called the Learned Helplessness Theory. This theory suggests that the victims of the abusive relationship stay in an abusive relationship after getting abused at least one time because it hurt them so bad they gave up. The victim thinks that they are helpless in a sense, so they just stay put in the relationship. Another theory is named the Cycle of Violence Theory. This theory consists of three different stages. The first stage called the tension-building phase is when the abuser starts showing signs of being controlling and the victim feels as if they are walking on eggshells. The next stage is called the explosive stage. While in this stage, the abuser starts to show their true colors and violence becomes present in the relationship. The final stage is called the honeymoon stage or otherwise known as the manipulation stage. This is the stage where the abuser tries to win their partner back with apologies and gifts. This is a common tactic that abusers use to ensure the victim does not leave the relationship. (House,