People respect abuse victims that break free of the cycle.
Jack abused John [his son], and John used that as an excuse to abuse Joe [John's son].
Joe wants to raise his kids.
Joe decides not to abuse his kids because he didn't like it when his dad abused him.
Joe abuses his kids too because that's how he himself was raised.
Joe breaks the cycle of abuse and in turn his kids never know abuse.
Joe's kids in turn go on to abuse their own kids.