Why do some people enjoy making others feel bad, small etc?

[myrtleleech]

Why is that some some people seem to enjoy causing others distress and embarrassment even in what should be friendly social situations. If int he past I ever inadvertently hurt someone, I've been mortified, apologised and felt very bad about it. I also do my best to think carefully about how what I say or do might affect someone else. However I do notice that some people seem to relish causing others distress in this way. I get that sometimes teasing and telling funny stories about other people can be done in a non malicious way and can be a way that people bond but when it's done to try and belittle another I struggle to see why someone would do that and even more why they might enjoy it.

I don't get it why do some people make repeated digs and snide comments at people they are supposed to like or even love or anyone for that matter?

I think it's sometimes done out of jealousy. That the person doing the putting down actually perceives the person they are embarrassing as in someway better than themselves, or better liked, or whatever and therefore they need to put the person " in there place" as it were, to make themselves appear superior.
And sometimes of course they are harbouring some grudge or perceived hurt which they haven't the guts to talk about openly so feel the need to get a bit of retaliatory hurt in.

Some people seem to do it on Mumsnet on a regular basis. It's about time people were just a bit more chilled out and nice to each other. Life can be hard but no need to take things out on others even if they have different opinions to you.