She tends to have a traditional view of marriage and she needs to make the marriage work, whatever the cost. Battered women are at risk for depression, home accidents, and alcohol and drug abuse. The typical batterer has poor impulse control, limited tolerance for frustration, and an explosive temper, often exacerbated by drug or alcohol use has probably battered other wives or girlfriends. He tends to be extremely jealous and possessive. A period of calm is followed by escalating tension.
Minor incidents occur that the woman tries to deny or minimize, sometimes by accepting blame.
When the tension reaches the breaking point, a battering incident occurs. The woman may be hit, kicked, thrown against a wall, raped with a foreign object, or threatened at gun or knife point. Following that incident, the batterer is often remorseful and very loving. She convinces herself it will never happen again. Then the cycle repeats itself.