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How can some people be so cruel for no reason?

31 Answers
Last Updated: 12/28/2020 at 4:29pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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I maintain a general practice providing services to children, adults, couples and families.

Top Rated Answers
heycrysteezy
September 15th, 2015 6:12pm
I have no clear answer to this, because I myself look for answers to this question. Some people are just cruel. Maybe it's because they have too much time on their hands, that they feel validation from focusing their energy on another person in a negative way. They could also be very sick, and think that what they're doing is some sort of leisurely activity, because they've never taken the time to experience a real hobby. What does matter in this situation, is how we react to it, and sometimes, it's better to not react at all.
StayStrongNeverLoseHope
March 28th, 2016 9:12pm
Because they're low lives and mean, and because they think it's cool to hurt others for no reason. Let me tell you something, if someone is picking on you for no reason then just ignore them, be the better person because they're not worth it, they're childish and small minded and you're a way better person than they will ever be.
Anonymous
January 22nd, 2015 10:13pm
I'd like to believe that the majority of people who are on this planet are kind and nice. I bleieve that people with no regard for other people's emotions usually are the one's who are cruel and show no empathy. People with low self esteem, people who are angry and stressed out may project these feelinsg on to other people. In conclusion then there are many reasons why people may act mean or cruel, but the important thing to remember is that in all these cases the people are lashing out because of something wrong with them. If you take it personally and let it affect you then this can be highly destructive and you might find yourself similarly acting out against those around you.
Winter41
March 6th, 2016 2:58pm
They might have their own problems or a certain past that haunts them and made them that way. We can never judge people without knowing what made them like that. If he/she is being cruel to you brush it off and don't these comments ever make you doubt yourself.
politeForest31
June 8th, 2015 4:23pm
Unfortunately, people tend to act out their frustrations in inappropriate ways. It is difficult, but it is equally as important to remind yourself that it often has nothing to do with you; most times you have done nothing to provoke (and certainly nothing to deserve) being treated with cruelty.
Ell123
February 16th, 2016 4:18pm
Not all people know how to love so they make others believe like love is something not existing. Don't let heartless and weak people bring you down!
MadelineD91
June 14th, 2015 5:38am
Some people can be cruel for many reasons. It could that some people have have self-esteem problems. That being said, they feel unhappy with their lives and they believe that someone else has to pay the consequences. People can be cruel unintentional, they can say or do things unconsciously, but that is not an excuse for their actions.
Anonymous
September 19th, 2016 8:07pm
Cruelty can often come in many forms, but I believe the main source of cruelty stems from within the offender. When we don't address our own issues of anger, frustration, and even depression, we often use vulnerable people in our environment to feel empowered. But in reality, we are the ones who feel powerless to begin with, and being cruel to others and causing others to feel the same instead of dealing with our own underlying issues is insensitive.
RogerP
May 3rd, 2015 2:11pm
Many times others are dealing with a great deal that cannot be seen from the outside. Be it a bad day, upsetting news, a mental disorder, personality complex or life stress. It is my belief that people are normally good but sometimes these mentioned (or more) may be contributors to cruel or negative behaviors.
ClaraJaneM
August 17th, 2015 8:34am
Some people don't know how to cope with the emotions that they have, so they go by whatever they feel at that moment and use it to fuel their words. They may not mean to be so horrible but they just can't control themselves yet. Although there will always be someone who may not have a reason and are just cruel regardless. These people you turn from and walk away; you do not need these kinda of people in your life.
ImL
August 31st, 2015 9:57pm
Some people are insecure which causes them to be mean to others to hide it. Others have dealt with abuse of their own that makes them think its the only way to live.
TroyKFernandez
December 7th, 2015 11:27pm
Because they don't understand the idea of compassion and maybe throughout there life they had a hard time with there family.
LuminousMoonlight82
June 7th, 2016 12:55am
They're most likely experiencing some kind of issue themselves and they don't know how to deal with it so they project it onto others.
comfortingPeace80
April 4th, 2016 7:28am
Some people try bring others down so it can make them feel better about themselves. Other people do it because they are going through something or are stressed, and they take it out on others by being cruel.
LittleLantern
November 3rd, 2015 11:15pm
Some people do it for the laughs, others do it because they simply dont know any better...and some others just plain get off on it. Sadly..the second is the most common i feel, misguided sense of righteousness..I have encountered that alot.
BasilAngel
August 2nd, 2016 12:55am
People aren't always cruel for no reason. Sometimes it's a reason that won't make sense to you but may have a lot of value to them. Other times it may be a mental illness that they either don't know of, or don't want others to know of.
emotionalSummer872
June 30th, 2018 2:05pm
They have been hurt
JoannaC46
July 7th, 2015 3:46pm
sometimes bullies would be cruel because they are not, however, satisfied or happy with their own life.
Anonymous
June 18th, 2015 3:37am
Some people are poisoned with so much negativity it's controlled their person like a weed. It's a sad state of affairs, but some people, whether they just don't care, can't see it, or are in pain, choose to let meanness become a pastime and stop caring about other people. It happens when you stop feeling empathy for other people and just hurt them. It's really sad. I feel sad for those that are cruel, because they're only half-living.
Anonymous
January 19th, 2016 2:16am
There is a lack of love in their hearts and it is our responsibility to fill the gap with cookies and pizza.
BeautifulGlobe14
August 22nd, 2017 11:25pm
A lot of people have had things done to them which have traumatized them. Therefore this makes them act a certain way. And yes, it still doesn't give them the right to be like that, but it's a human nature for us. Especially if they weren't shown the right way. Some people already know the truth, it's just so hard accepting it. It's the way of life and it's difficult to accept but we have to In order to live life.
Anonymous
April 10th, 2017 6:43am
People feel the need to express what they're feeling. If they feel poorly about themselves, they might express that in a negative way towards other people.
Anonymous
July 4th, 2016 10:15pm
these comparisons can often make us feel worse about ourselves or better about ourselves. As we generally prefer to feel good, notion that people are more negative towards others when they have been insulted or belittled, and that this can make people feel better about themselves (it can help restore self-esteem). In one study, when people were told they were unattractive (using fake feedback), compared to being told they were attractive, they rated others not only as less attractive, but also less intelligent and less kind. Put succinctly, being insulted made people more likely to demean others. some people dont mean to be mean its how they are .they act cruel becuase that what the think they should be ,sometimes they dont think it cruel as they see it but from others point of view they see it so wrong
Sunset316
August 21st, 2017 10:48am
Some of them are just born that way. The reasons could be anything. You just don't know what they are. For example: neglected as a child, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, etc are all examples for signs of depression. They probably are so cruel like that because they don't want to get hurt anymore. And if you're nice, some people might take advantage of you. And being cruel is probably the only way they can think of to protect themselves.
ImLittleM
November 16th, 2015 10:04am
Some people have a lot going on in their own lives that we are unaware of. It may be wrong of them to be cruel for no reason, but they may not know how to control the things going on in their life, and may seem like they are being grumpy, or taking it out on people who have done nothing to them.
Anonymous
June 14th, 2015 9:12am
Everyone has their reasons. People choose to be cruel, just like they choose to be kind. Oftentimes, those who are cruel are trying to assuage their own self-hatred by focusing on someone else's flaws, but it really could be anything. Maybe they're going through a hard time. Maybe they genuinely don't know that they're being mean. The possibilities are endless. Just like you had the motivation, for whatever reason, to ask this question, they have whatever motivation to be cruel.
positiveSummer89
July 6th, 2015 5:49pm
Maybe they grew up with very mean parents or where bullied before just want to take it out on others.
Gidget202869
June 18th, 2018 11:41pm
Maybe they are going through some tough times and fighting their own battles, or they aren`t thinking. If it is constant, they may be in a bad place.
courageousBeauty49
November 2nd, 2015 2:08pm
I think something we all forget is that every single person on this earth is struggling with something, most of the time. Now the struggles are never the same and not always as important to every individual. When people are cruel, I try to remember that there is something that the are dealing with that has made them probably lose track of who they really could be. Remember it isn't personal!
lovelyRiver3981
December 28th, 2020 4:29pm
That’s just the human nature, some people simply do not have empathy. That’s hard to understand for most people but that’s the way it is. Erhaben to accept it, since there is nothing we can really do about it. We have to focus on our own good and believe in the fact that other people out there also have good intentions, just like we do. But remember there are also people who do not have good intentions and are indeed out to harm us. So we have to be cautious and don’t trust everyone that easily. That is it.