I was also thinking about women who get into relationships that are abusive...

I donno, I'm always thinking something is being recreated there...a conflict they had as a kid-plus, if that's all you know, what's more to expect really?

It could even be as out there as a father promises not to come home drunk and hit her, and they talk it all out, she forgives him, all is restored...then he does it again and the pattern repeats it's self. If you grew up like that, your tolerance to it would be high, and it it could be difficult for that kid (now grown) to feel that she doesn't deserve that and demand better.
Maybe an ever hopeful wish that the parent (now boyfrind/spouse/ other realtionships) had taken care of them, because that hope must have been there as a kid.