.....nothing demoralizes a person like being abused as a child, IMHO. We had "assembly" every morning, whole school, hymns, prayer, lecture.. and if the head teacher talking saw a boy make a face or chat he went over and twisted their ear until they almost cried -this is young teenagers! I t not only probably affected those boys but we who witnessed. Even when i started working in an office at 16 I would not call the men by their first names as had been taught not to... even tho they requested it.. I know that's mild.. but an 8 yr long marriage where i was verbally and mentally and financially "abused" .. I stuck it out as always made to feel inferior and coincident, shortest in class. Now some children rule the household ... is there a happy medium? I think so and thats how I raised my two now adult chldren: loving kindness, care, rules...and it has paid off big time ! 🙂