If a victim is emotionally dependent on their boyfriend/girlfriend, she or he will have trouble ending the relationship. She or he will make excuses for the abuse or believe they can help or change the partner’s behavior.
Generally a victim has destroyed other friendships and strained family ties in order to spend time with their boyfriend/girlfriend. That boyfriend/girlfriend becomes the only support system that she or he has and the realization and fear of being alone keeps the victim in the relationship.
The victim may believe that she or he is the cause of abuse, therefore do not deserve any better. A victim may also be afraid of being alone or places their self worth on the relationship.
A victim who has grown up in an abusive home is more likely to find herself or himself in an abusive relationship. With abusive parents as the only model of a relationship, the victim may see violence as “normal”.
A victim may be so terrified of their abuser that she or he cannot leave the relationship. This fear may cause her or him to deny the abuse if questioned.
The less frequent and severe the incidents, the more likely the victim will stay.