Domestic violence is usually a one-time event, an isolated incident.
Once violence begins in a relationship, it gets worse and more frequent over a period of time. Battering is not just one physical attack. It is a number of tactics intimidation, threats, economic deprivation, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse used repeatedly. Experts have compared methods used by batterers to those used by terrorists to brainwash hostages. A batterers' emotional needs, insecurities, and above all, desire to control will lead to more assaults.