Precision instruments are delicate and easily damaged. A surgeon's scalpel used for carving wood becomes useless for any purpose. The human mind is a delicate instrument damaged by the myriad deficits visited upon it down the ages.

An inadequate provision of food, shelter and security not only does obvious physical damage but inflicts subtler longer term damage to the psyche (Maslow). This is then passed on through behaviour and probably genetically. The exponential effect through history has kept humans emotionally retarded, their development stunted, their spiritual performance poor. As a consequence progress has been painfully slow. It has come in tiny increments usually from the great endeavours of gifted individuals who by their trials have been able to bring improvements.

I think that the delicate instrument might be self-healing as with physical wounds. It might be able to lead the long haul toward mental health. if possible, this could have a transformative effect on behaviour and relationships and as a result upon societies and thenceforth across the human race. Then the majority of problems faced would be elemental and not, as has historically been the case, from each to the other.