A BROADENED UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD ABUSE HAS ENABLED SOCIAL WORKERS TO SEE ABUSING PARENTS NOT AS EVIL MURDERERS, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS CAUGHT IN A WEB OF SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. THIS CHANGE IN ATTITUDE HAS BROUGHT ITS OWN DANGERS. OVERIDENTIFICATION WITH THE PARENT CAN LEAD TO INJURIES OR DEATH FOR THE CHILD. SOCIAL WORKERS MAY REJECT THE IDEA OF EXERTING CONTROL OVER UNACCEPTABLE PARENTAL BEHAVIOR FOR SEVERAL REASONS: (1) IT IS SEEN AS FAILURE OF THE COMPASSIONATE APPROACH DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THE HELPING PROFESSIONS; (2) CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONALS ARE RELUCTANT TO SET LIMITS FOR OTHER ADULTS, EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION SCREAMS FOR ACTION; AND (3) THE RAGE OFTEN FELT IN CHILD ABUSE CASES CANNOT BE CHANNELED DIRECTLY AT THE PARENTS WITH WHOM ONE MUST WORK AND GETS DISPLACED, LEADING TO INEFFECTIVE ACTION. STANDARDS FOR DECISIONMAKING ARE GIVEN. IN GENERAL, FIRM CONTROL IS CALLED FOR IF THE INJURIES TO THE CHILD ARE CHRONIC, IF THE ABUSE IS EXTREME, IF THE PARENTS FEEL LITTLE REMORSE, IF HATE IS SEEN FOR THE CHILD, IF THE PARENTS CANNOT SEE THE CHILD AS A SEPARATE HUMAN BEING, AND IF THE PARENT SHOWS LITTLE PERSONALITY STRENGTH WITH POOR ABILITY TO CONTROL IMPULSES. AT TIMES, ONLY THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF A COURT MAY GIVE SUFFICIENT LEVERAGE FOR A TRULY COMPASSIONATE, HELPING RELATIONSHIP TO BE FORMED.