From ancient times to the present the abuse of women and children has occurred in societies that have had a structure hostile to other societies (e.g., war is glorified), hostile punitive attitudes to its own population (e.g., few civil liberties and rejection of the underclass), and depreciation of women. The psychological characteristics of the abusers show depression, poor impulse control, and difficulty in loving. Psychological characteristics of the abused include depression and feeling unloved. The abused, depressed little girl grows up to be the depressed mother. Therefore, short-term planning will produce little or no benefit. Attention must be paid to the most important person in the world, the mother-to-be, the newborn female child.
