Why do people act cruel when they know it's wrong to do so?

Question

Example: why do people beat up their kids?

Answer 1

There are plenty of reasons why they do this. It doesn't mean it makes it right though. Here are a few (of your particular scenario)
1.) Repressed emotions and thoughts of parents beating them.
2.) A way to exert anger and stress by means of physical "torture" or abuse.
3.) Sadly, there are those psychotics who beat just for their "fun". Which is horrible.
There are, although not extremely obvious, many, many reasons (again of only this particular scenario).

On a more ambiguous and broad terms, such as morality is also different. Also please note that just because some people are "godless" doesn't make them monsters (particularly atheists). They can do something wrong because they may feel that their is no truth behind what they've learned, or just representing defiance. Again, may be repressed emotions, or just for personal gain (like a robbery). There are different reasons, some so strange that we may never think of it. Nonetheless, never forget: Two wrongs don't make a right. People can dedicate themselves to morals and beliefs, ideologies and thoughts. We have been taught to know what is right and what is wrong. What is rewarded when done right and what is tabooed. Some people do the right thing because they want to feel good about themselves, or sometimes the most self-less will do it just because it benefits others. The more evil people would just do it because they want something from greed, or maybe hatred. Revenge or lust. That is why we must have good virtues and never represent those bad people by showing their similar emotions or beliefs.

Sometimes people can have different views of what's right, and what's wrong. Some might feel that what they do will make something right. But that is not the case.


If someone actually took the time to read this, thanks =)

Answer 2

many times it is because they where beat up and that is the only way they know. It is learned behavior. Other times it is because they have no real compassion or mercy or empathy for the ones they harm. It is not about the persons they are harming it is something wrong within their consciousness. Though many people who where beaten as children stop the pattern and learn the lesson and realize they don't want another person to go through what they went through. A lot of this karma is coming from past lives. We may be put into a family who beats us because in our previous life we beat our kids. Then we have to go through that karma this life. The only way to beak the pattern is to realize the suffering we are giving to others in all circumstances, and not do it any more. Hope this helps. For info on karma and reincarnation read Bhagavad Gita as it is By BHaktivedanta Prabhupada go to harekrishnatemple.com. Very enlightening and life changing book.

Answer 3

caused they never learned to handle their own inadequacies. There are anger management classes or psychologists to see to solve the problem, but, the person first has to admit that they have the problem...and some people think it's normal because they are mimicing how they grew up and what they saw around them. The point is to wake up that person and get the word out to them that what they are doing is wrong and there is a better way that does not injure someone they love.

So in answer to your question, I don't think they know that it's wrong. And, in the case of mistreating a wife, some traditions still believe that is ok to do.

Answer 4

I think when people are hurting so much inside themselves, they discover that making someone else feel worse than what they do, makes them feel better. Did a parent ever say to you "there's always someone else worse off than you", whenever you complained about that new bike you wanted but couldn't have? My mother did all the time. As I matured, I saw that she was right, and I learned to have compassion for others. But some people grow up in an abusive environment, and when they mature they find that no-one is worse off than them [or so they believe]. Hence, a bully, or wife basher or child molester [or whatever] is born.

Answer 5

Remember Pat Banater's " Hell is for Children" song! Every time I see something said of the news about some mother or father getting caught with abusing their own kids I think of that song and I pray for those kids and pray for the relatives of the kids. Your right, children should never have to stand that kind of life, but it happens more than you think and it's harder to understand why a mother or father can do such an thing!

Answer 6

The people are either on the wrong kind of drugs, booze, or are on the verge of legal insanity.

Most people do know right from wrong, and it's a shame when they lose that knowledge to some illness or narcotic, etc.

Answer 7

Many reason some times they were beaten as a kid. They are mentally disturbed. They hate kids the list goes on but no reason is a good reason. They all need to seek professional help.

Answer 8

Cruelty is inherant in human beings. We were born with it just as we were born with the urge to feed.

"Wrong" is relative. What you or the law might think is wrong, others may not.

As much as we try to tame ourselves to coexist with people, we'll always have it inside us to be cruel & self centered.

Answer 9

Sometimes you must be cruel to be kind....

I had to smack around my little bro for years. But guess what, he didn't grow up to be a wuss! Infact, he lives in my house now and I can always count on him to back me up.

Answer 10

Sometimes its passed down from generation to generation. Not always.