We can observe a cycle all around us and at all levels of people; those who have been abused go on to treat others poorly, and often in revolutions, one overthrown corrupted power leads to more corruption eventually. Even if they do not think it will, power can really change people over time.
When someone is abused, they are made to believe that they deserve the poor treatment they are receiving, and may not know of any other treatment there even is yet. Over time, this leads to feelings of inadequacy and fear, which ultimately can lead to anger and depression once they come to learn that what happened to them was abuse. Simply telling someone that "life isn't fair" and that they should "just get over it" doesn't work when it comes to deep-seated abuse. It is not that simple and cannot just be consciously decided in one-step.
If not dealt with properly, their negative emotions continue to fester within themselves, and will end up leaking out at some point, even if they try to hold them in. This can lead to lashing out at others', and perhaps finding abusing others' makes them feel good. It is quite twisted, as unless they are sociopathic, they likely subconsciously feel empathy for those they are abusing as well. Or, perhaps they even consciously know what they are doing isn't right, but become addicted to it like a drug, and may feel out-of-control. Being abused may also lead someone to continue to treat themselves poorly in the future in many ways, because they do not think they deserve better. However, it doesn't have to be this way.
If you were abused in any way, you can stop the cycle of abuse that has led up to you, but you have to want it. The abused doesn't have to become the abuser; make the choice to end the cycle with you and learn how to heal yourself and spread kindness instead. It can be a lengthy process, but peace of mind is a priceless goal to work towards. It surprises me that spreading kindness isn't more emphasized by our leaders of all kinds. It's amazing what love and kindness can do for a person, especially someone that has lacked in these.
I know this because I have lived it, and watched others live it as well. I had a peculiar childhood, to put it one way. My mother exhibited clear symptoms of OCD and bipolar disorder, though she was never formally diagnosed, and as a child I was forced to deal with the products of these untreated illnesses. She was abused by her mother as well. Of course I could continue, but that is a story for another day.
I made it out of hateful thought patterns with help from friends and the religion of Christianity, though I no longer identify with that religion. The end to this cycle is taking the time to truly care for the abused and showing them how to properly care for themselves and others. If you were abused, you are worth more than that, regardless of what you have done in your past. I encourage you all to love yourselves, and to love each other. If we continue to act in these ways, we will witness our world slowly heal.