For me, the shittiest part of it is that bullies aren't actually that way as a result of being bullied themselves. That rationale was a huge help to moving past scars left by my own bullies, but it turns out it's simply untrue.
Instead recent findings indicate they are just hereditarily more aggressive, and seek an outlet for that aggression by bullying. This aggression actually winds up improving their performance in the business world and other areas of life.
http://www.today.com/parents/study-bullies-have-higher-self-esteem-social-status-lower-levels-t36271
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160822-why-bullying-is-such-a-successful-evolutionary-strategy
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bullies-have-higher-self-esteem-social-success-study-finds-1.3173387
Is that a fucking downer or what
Yes, it's not universal, I had an "or" section or 3-4 things, but there are more as well:
Not all are perpetuating abuse they suffered. Many are very confident, and like power over others. They don't need to have been bullied as they do to others. Become the dominant one and other assume the submissive position that permits. So dominant minds overbear on those who let them do what they do. That is a way to climb up in society and "success" hehe, by climbing over others in a dichotomous relation of dominator-submissive. That's one aspect. I'm not sure if that's what the articles were talking about, but I wanted to give my take on it ;) Thanks for the feedback.
It parallels very closely the social structure of apes if you think about it. Chimps and gorillas in particular.