What are the typical components of the cycle of abuse?

• A. Tension-building, incident, reconciliation, and calm
• B. Stage of denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance
• C. Growth, stability, crisis, recovery
• D. Trigger, reaction, aftermath, normalization

Answer: (A)

The pattern being tested is how abusive relationships often repeat in four phases: tension-building, the abusive incident, reconciliation (often with apologies or promises to change), and a calm period that follows. In tension-building, things feel unstable and minor triggers raise fear or controlling behavior. The incident is when the abuse actually happens. Afterward comes reconciliation, where the abuser apologizes, might be affectionate, or buys forgiveness, creating a temporary sense of relief. Finally, a calm or honeymoon period settles in, during which the relationship seems normal again, before tension starts to build up once more.

This four-part sequence is the standard way many professionals describe the cycle of abuse, making it the best match for the question. The other options reflect different processes—grief stages, general crisis recovery, or a sequence that doesn’t align with the familiar pattern of tension, abuse, apology, and calm.