This is the question isn't it? Nearly everything taught to a child is considered to improve performance and better quality of life. A father that beats his kid may think he is teaching them lessons about the reality of the world. A parent who teaches a child to count to pass school tests? Is there a difference or is the difference based on probabilities about pathways available? There are some very successful and happy people who were abused as children and some very unsuccessful and depressed ones who were given what would be considered a good upbringing.