Chris Brown, Rihanna Reunite; What's the Likelihood of Spousal and Partner Abuse Continuing?

Chris Brown was in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday to plead not guilty to one count of making felony threats and one count of felony assault for his alleged beating of his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. Although it is no surprise that Chris Brown would plead not guilty, what seems to have caught most people off guard is the quickness with which Rihanna seemed to jump back into a relationship with Chris Brown. Less than three weeks after the 911 call that resulted in Chris Brown's arrest, People magazine and other publications reported that the two had reconciled.

It shouldn't have been in the least bit surprising. Her behavior is typical of many abused women. It is reported that as many as two-thirds of women in an abusive relationship will return to the same partner after a "cooling off" period. While so many sit in shocked disbelief at the media circus surrounding the case of Chris Brown's alleged abuse and his seeming nonchalance with regard to the incident, they also wonder how others who have been abused could enter again into a relationship with an individuals who perpetrate these acts.

What makes abusive partner situations so unnerving is the likelihood of their already having happened before. According to a Department of Justice report, about half of intimate abuse cases are reported to the police. About 6 in 10 acts of intimate partner violence are never treated by medical professionals. The reasons are varied: shame, the injuries are relatively minor, feelings of low-self worth, fear of reprisal.

Steve Stosny, a counselor and founder of CompassionPower, told CNN that even though women might leave their abusive partner out of fear, resentment, and/or anger, they return to the abusive partner because they sometimes begin to feel guilt, anxiety, and/or shame.

Whatever her reasons for reentering their alleged abusive relationship, there is an alarming set of statistics to which women like Rihanna might wish to pay particular heed. The CDC reports on its website that 44% of women murdered by an intimate partner visited the emergency room for treatment within two years of their death, with an overwhelming 93% of those killed having had at least one injury visit.

By the amount of damage done (as per the leaked Rihanna beating photo), an escalation of the violence -- and statistics show that the violence tends to escalate over time and with each incident -- may just result in far worse than a badly bruised face and a few scratches.

According to the police report, Chris Brown threatened to kill Rihanna as well as leaving countless bruises on her body and face. He even bit her on her left ear, police said.

Only time will tell if Chris Brown will allegedly keep his hands off of Rihanna. Because, if this is true, unless Chris Brown is an exception to the statistical rule, he most certainly will do it again.

Allegedly.

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Sources:

OJP.usdoj.gov
CDC.gov
CNN.com