You are totally correct, Kathy. Over time, I had a stronger relationship with my stepmom, and my physical abuse was not as severe as my brother's. He never really "attached" to her, he was attached to me and our dad, and her punishment/control of him interferred with his ability to attach to her (makes *total* sense to me!)... over time the abuse, both physical, emotional and other abuse just got worse and worse because there was just an attempt on my stepmom's part to "control" him but no real loving relationship present.