This is an absolutely amazing article that expresses something I’ve thought for a while. My experience with people who’ve abused me indicates that these people generally are not evil sadists, but people who have twisted psychological perceptions of things, or believe that their actions are actually justified. And they often coexist with love. My mother emotionally abused me, but I can’t say “she never loved me” or demonise her, because I truly believe she did love me for most of my childhood.