For a more complete answer, I would add something about an abused person that has been unable to heal wants to recreate the negative life situations with those closest and most dependent, so they don’t feel so isolated, to justify their experiences as ‘normal’ and also out of spite/anger at the world for not treating them properly.
Of course, abuse of dependents and ‘malice’ are different things requiring two different explanations, though not mutually exclusive. I suppose malice is more about increasing or experiencing (larger group) ‘status’ as the other comments have been focusing on.
I think this is the best answer so far..
For a more complete answer, I would add something about an abused person that has been unable to heal wants to recreate the negative life situations with those closest and most dependent, so they don’t feel so isolated, to justify their experiences as ‘normal’ and also out of spite/anger at the world for not treating them properly.
Of course, abuse of dependents and ‘malice’ are different things requiring two different explanations, though not mutually exclusive. I suppose malice is more about increasing or experiencing (larger group) ‘status’ as the other comments have been focusing on.