R&B singer Chris Brown's alleged battering of girlfriend-songstress Rihanna has shone a spotlight on domestic violence.

Although the celebrity superstar couple's bank balances aren't typical -- Rihanna won a 2007 Grammy for the song "Umbrella" and Mr. Brown has had Billboard chart-topping singles including "Run It" and "Kiss, Kiss" -- the details of the alleged assault and the couple's relationship since are textbook examples of what can happen in domestic violence cases, experts say.

"There's been a lot of national conversation about this that really exceeds what we saw with the O.J. Simpson case," said Retha Fielding, spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline in Austin, Texas. "The conversation has been very healthy, and people clearly see this [alleged abuse] as wrong."

The celebrity case has driven up calls to the national hot line and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

The Los Angeles County court affidavit alleges that Mr. Brown, 19, repeatedly punched "Robyn F." -- 21-year-old Rihanna's full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty -- in the face and arms, bit her, held her so tightly in a headlock that she almost lost consciousness and threatened to kill her as the two drove in a rented Lamborghini Feb. 8 after a pre-Grammy Awards party in Los Angeles.

Mr. Brown appeared in court Thursday to face two felony charges -- assault likely to cause great bodily harm and making criminal threats. He didn't enter a plea because the proceedings were continued until April 6. He remains free on $50,000 bail. If convicted, he could face more than four years in prison.

The couple reportedly reconciled last weekend, spending time together at the Miami Beach-area home of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. In court Thursday, Rihanna's attorney stated his client didn't want a restraining order against the R&B crooner.

"It's extremely typical for someone to go back to their abuser," said Rhonda Fleming, education director for the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. "Oftentimes, it can take someone five times before leaving for a final time."

One in four women experiences domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women ages 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Mr. Brown has stated that when he was growing up, he witnessed his stepfather beat his mother.

"He thinks that's the way he's supposed to be in a relationship," Ms. Fleming said.

He also doesn't appear to be getting the kind of help he needs to change, said the national hot line's Ms. Fielding.

"Talking to his mother and pastor is good for the soul, but he needs to be in a battering prevention program," she said. "He also needs to own it; he hasn't really owned it."

The cycle of abuse has three phases. The first or tension phase can involve name calling and a lot of exercising of control, whether it's emotional, psychological or financial. The abuser can try to control the victim's activities, behaviors and interactions by, for example, asking, "Where are you? Who are you with? When are you coming home?" or "I don't want you wearing those clothes," Ms. Fleming said.

When controls no longer work, the abuse occurs. That's phase two.

After some time apart, although some couples never have a physical separation, they move into phase three -- the honeymoon phase. During this period, the victim may feel remorse or even responsibility for the attack.

"They're at the point of wanting to try again, believing it was just an occurrence and it won't happen again," she said. "The abuser didn't mean it and promises to change."

During this phase, the abuser tries to win forgiveness from the victim with gifts.

"Obviously in a case where both partners are wealthy, it might just be some real special time together," Ms. Fleming said, such as hanging out together at Mr. Combs' Florida home.

The honeymoon phase lasts for a while, but the couple eventually slips back into phase one.

"There may not be another battering incident for a month or a year or three years or more," Ms. Fleming said, adding that it is likely to happen again.

Jill Brooke, editor-in-chief of FirstWivesWorld.com, which counsels divorced women, said this case debunks the myth that only trapped women suffer domestic violence.

"This is not a case where she has children, where she has no job or no place to go," Ms. Brooke said. "She has cash and cachet; however, the root of domestic abuse is self esteem."

Blog chatter, especially from teens, and media reports claiming that Rihanna was right to reconcile with Mr. Brown and that she somehow brought the assault on herself are disturbing, the experts said.

"We have to get away from the victim blame," Ms. Fielding said. "It's not her fault."

Victims contemplating leaving an abuser should contact a local shelter to discuss how to safely exit the relationship.

"Out of victims who are murdered, 75 percent are murdered when they are in the process of leaving or have just left," Ms. Fleming said. "Leaving is a process, not an event."

It often takes a celebrity case to bring attention to domestic violence, but it's a reality for many whose names never make the headlines.

"They're both young and they can both learn from this and learn how to be in a healthy relationship, but they both have work to do," Ms. Fielding said.