Are people who were bullied as children more likely to become powertrippers as adults? (issues, emotion)

[moongirl00]

Are people who were bullied as children more likely to become powertrippers as adults?

In other words, are they more likely to become bullies themselves as adults if they find themselves in a position of power over people?

Especially if they associate the people they are powertripping over with the people who bullied them as children?

[Den0190]

A bullied child can become an adult bully, become a doormat, or develop self-esteem and turn out emotionally-stable. It's up to the individual. Are they more likely to be powertrippers? ...Who knows? Plenty of people had terrible childhoods and were victims of childhood bullying but overcame it. The thing is, you won't see these people in statistics because they may have never been to a therapist.

If you're dealing with a bully with childhood issues then yes it is possible he/she associates you with their past bullies, but what makes you think that? Unless they remark that you remind them of so-and-so then you couldn't know.

[moongirl00]

Thanks for the reply Den.

Its on another forum and I think a moderator is powertripping a part of the forum. The subforum consists of aggressive types who admit to being bullies as children. I think the mod was bullied too.

I wonder if her powertripping them, being overly strict, etc., could be her way of getting revenge against people who probably remind her of her childhood bullies. She has caused a lot of people to leave the forum because she is so strict and annoying. She has even caused other mods to leave. She's very haughty and arrogant and insists on having everything her way.

[jtur88]

They don't wait to become adults. They take it out on other little kids, as bullies at school.

[Huckleberry3911948]

"Power trippers" are usually authority figures that call u on your stuff
Trust me head of p stone is never called a power tripper
Well ok maybe just once

[steel7]

I believe some have grown up to be cops.

[holdzstand]

I guess so. though it depends on the individual.

[Mnseca]

Originally Posted by moongirl00

Are people who were bullied as children more likely to become powertrippers as adults?

In other words, are they more likely to become bullies themselves as adults if they find themselves in a position of power over people?

Especially if they associate the people they are powertripping over with the people who bullied them as children?

I don't think so. I think people who are bullied become more empathetic towards other people who lack power.

On the other hand, it's possible to be raised long-term in a community where bullying is the norm, and so one doesn't know any other way. It's kill or be killed, so people who come from those environments are often aggressive as a defense mechanism, which can come off as bullying.

I walk the line between the two. On the one hand, I'm sensitive to how other people feel and don't want to hurt anyone. On the other, I worry about seeming weak and then becoming a victim again, so if I feel someone is attacking me I go on the offensive - except sometimes the person doesn't mean to attack me and I just come off too aggressive.

[ocnjgirl]

I was bullied mainly because I had some insecurities. Vulnerability is one of those things bullies sense. As an adult though I still have that empathetic, overly sensitive personality, I have never had the emotional stuff needed to power trip anyone. I would imagine most people retain similar traits in adult life, and the sensitive kids become sensitive adults, and the power tripping bullies become the adult power tripping bullies. I don't think most people change all that much.

[The Mysterious Benefactor]

I don't know that being bullied drives this. I would attribute it more to insecurities. People who feel they aren't respected or feel powerless for any number of reasons. We see the types; They want to be the hall monitor in grade school, the RA at university, the forum moderator, mall security guard, etc. All of which they take way too seriously. And yeah, lots of them dream of being cops. Not because they want to help their community, but because "NOW people ARE going to respect me"!