OFTEN THE ABUSER IS A PASSIVE PERSON WHO VENTILATES FRUSTRATIONS ON WEAKER OBJECTS AND HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN ABUSED. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABUSER INCLUDE INSECURITY, INADEQUACY, NARCISSISM HYPERSENSITIVITY, AND POOR IMPULSE CONTROL. CHILDREN WITH MANAGEMENT OR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS MAY PROVOKE UNPREPARED ADOLESCENTS WITH EMOTIONAL LIMITATIONS INTO MOMENTARY RAGE. A SURVEY OF 480 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOWS THAT 46.5 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS GOT VERY ANGRY AT CHILDREN WHILE BABYSITTING, 33.3 PERCENT SPANKED THEM, 13.3 PERCENT CALLED FOR HELP, 8.3 PERCENT HAD AN ATTACK OF FEAR OR PANIC, 7.7 PERCENT STRUCK THEM, AND 7.7 PERCENT GOT FRUSTRATED AND CRIED. THESE RESULTS INDICATE THAT POTENTIAL ABUSE AND LOSS OF IMPULSE CONTROL CAN OCCUR DURING BABYSITTING SITUATIONS. EARLY CHILDHOOD INTIMACY FAILURES MAY LEAD ADOLESCENTS TO BELIEVE THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE DANGEROUS AND PREDETERMINED TO CAUSE FRUSTRATION, MISTRUST, AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. THE BABYSITTER'S LEVEL OF EMOTIONAL SENSITIVITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, ALONG WITH FACTORS SUCH AS AGE, CRISIS, GRIEF, LOVE, ILLNESS, EXAMS, AND GEOGRAPHIC CHANGES, CAN AFFECT THE BABYSITTER'S OVERALL COPING MECHANISMS AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PARENTS TAKE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IN SELECTING TEENAGERS AND MAKE NECESSARY INQUIRIES ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCES OF POTENTIAL SITTERS. IF ABUSE OCCURS, THE EXAMINER SHOULD MAKE SURE IT IS NOT REPEATED. PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE CHILD, THE BABYSITTER, AND THE FAMILY, WHILE PROPER AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED, AND SUPPORTIVE PHOTOGRAPHS AND RADIOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOULD BE MADE. THERE ARE 27 REFERENCES. (JLF)