Cycle of Violence is a recurring behavioral pattern where the offender swings between affectionate, remorseful, and calm behavior to periods of tension that grows into physical, sexual or emotional violence.

The Cycle is commonly referred to in literature about domestic violence. It is important to remember that this way of describing domestic violence has limitations. Many battered women/advocates believe that the name of the "honeymoon" stage is misleading and that the cycle generally does not accurately describe the experience of battering.