Battered women are trapped in a cycle of violence that is difficult to break. The purpose of this study was to determine when helpseeking and reality behaviors were most likely to be exhibited by battered women. The results of this study revealed a period of helpseeking and reality behaviors by battered women occurring in a cyclical pattern within the cycle of violence. The author named this period the Open Window Phase. This phase may be seen as a crucial opportunity for successful intervention in the lives of battered women and a positive step toward breaking the cycle of violence.
PIP: Walker has proposed a cycle of domestic violence, in which battered women pass through three phases: tension-building phase, the acute battering incident, and a honeymoon (calm) period. The author proposes an open window phase, occurring between phases two and three, in which a battered woman realizes she is a victim and is unable to stop the violence, is most likely to reach out for help, will learn whether there are alternatives to violence, and is most receptive to intervention. To verify the existence of such a phase, interviews were conducted with a nonprobability sample of 22 battered women in an urban US shelter. All 22 women manifested at least three of the six open window phase behaviors of telling, leaving, reality thoughts/feelings, medical/health assistance, police/protective assistance, and legal assistance. Overall, there were 321 occurrences of open window phase behaviors, 282 (88%) of which occurred between phases two and three of the Walker model. The open window period is the most opportune time for interventions by health care professionals. Eventually, the positive support a battered woman receives during this phase will give her the strength she needs to leave the violent situation.