THIS SWEDISH PAPER BEGINS BY CITING A STUDY CONDUCTED IN SWEDEN WHICH SHOWED THAT MOTHERS WERE IMPLICATED IN 41 PERCENT OF ALL REPORTED CHILD ABUSE CASES. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE MOTHER IS GENERALLY THE PRIMARY FIGURE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT AND NEGLECT CASES. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS BEHIND SUCH BREAKDOWNS IN THE MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP ARE EXAMINED. THE PRIMARY CAUSE IS SEEN AS POOR MOTHERING EXPERIENCES PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. A WOMAN WHO HAS NOT HAD GOOD MOTHERING FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO ASSUME THE MATERNAL ROLE. REJECTION OFTEN OCCURS WITH UNWANTED PREGNANCIES. OTHER CAUSES FOR THE BREAKDOWN IN THE RELATIONSHIP ARE THE FOLLOWING: FALSE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CHILD, ASSUMING GREATER CAPACITY THAN IS NORMAL FOR A YOUNG CHILD; SEPARATION AT BIRTH SUCH AS OCCURS WITH PREMATURE BABIES OR RESULTS FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS; AND DEFORMITIES OR RETARDATION, WHICH OFTEN MAKE THE MOTHER FEEL GUILTY. CERTAIN CHILDREN PLACE GREAT STRESS ON THE MOTHER. AN EXTREMELY FUSSY, HARD TO CALM BABY IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES THE MOTHER MAY NOT HAVE THE PATIENCE TO COPE. IF A BREAK IN THE BONDING IS COMBINED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT OR OTHER EXTERNAL STRESS FACTORS, ABUSE BECOMES EVEN MORE LIKELY. PARENTS WHO BELIEVE IN EXTREMELY STRICT CHILD-REARING PRACTICES ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN. EXAMPLES AND A CASE STUDY FROM DENMARK ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)