Verbal Abuse?

My friend has this pattern occuring in her life, do you think it will get any better?

In the last month her partner of 7 year has come home from work, seems all nice to start with, then after a while he will start shouting, then swearing, then name calling.
He apolgies after my friend stands up too him. She doesn't argue back with him she just smiles at him or laughs. This has happened three times since the beginning of the month, but only 4 times prior to that in the whole seven years.
The apology is always half hearted, goes along the line I apologise but...........

Is this going to be a pattern for her. What should she do. I know that she doesn't want to leave him, but she has had enough now.

We as humans can subconsciously pick up on patterns and can learn to adapt to them for instance tit for tat, if the abuser knows they can do this and simply send out a try emotionless apology all the time, unconsciously the partner may be more opt to repeat although external conditions could be causing the outbursts. In my opinion though unless this person is made aware early on the pattern will repeat.