THE CHILD IS PART OF THE ABUSE SYNDROME, ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR. THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHICH MAKE HIM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABUSED. UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE BEYOND HIS CONTROL. THE ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF THE CHILD IN THE ABUSE SYNDROME VIA SIX FACETS. THESE INCLUDE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHILD MAKING HIM MORE DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR, CHANCE EVENTS AFFECTING MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP, DISRUPTIONS IN ATTACHMENT, MISMATCH OF THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS' EXPECTATION, THE DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL OF THE CHILD, AND THE CHILD INVITING ABUSE UPON HIMSELF. IN PREDICTING ABUSE, THE AUTHOR STRESSES FOCUSING ON THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF THE PARENT, AND TO A LESSER DEGREE ON THOSE SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT MAY ACT AS AN ADDED STRESS ON THE FAMILY....BDS