A number of aggravating circumstances exist to this blanket provision including: Abuse of parental authority or tutorship, where the victim is under the age of 12 and if the offence is committed by means of threats or deceit.

There have been a number of cases of arrests, charges and civil lawsuits arising from the domestic discipline of washing another's mouth out with soap; often arising from the perception of abuse of parental authority by an outside figure.

The author, a former psychologist, blithely bumps off several members of the helping professions in BAD LOVE (Bantam, $22.95), which takes its title from a crackpot analyst's term for "abuse of parental authority leading to alienation, cynicism and, in extreme cases, violence."

Whilst the lovers are unquestionably faithful and devoted to each other until the end, Teav is a victim of her mother's abuse of parental power.

I do not believe that fathers are bad and mothers good, or that mothers are blameless victims, or that children aren't harmed by poor parenting (including real abuses of parental power so vile as to be almost inconceivable).