Does the abused become the abuser?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
I struggle with intrusive thoughts of becoming like my abuser. Its also a trigger for me when people justify abusers’ actions with “well they were abused too”
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TV Show • 2018 Report
Yes
16
No
9
3
violetbooklover
Yes- this is the entire premise. Joe grows up in an abusive and neglectful environment from his parents and later by Mooney. He had no healthy example for love and care in his youth.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
14
No
3
8
nh17
This deals with themes of generational trauma but it turns out ok in the end
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
12
No
0
1
stickysweet_hunny
Butters is severely abused by his parents and two episodes he starts lashing out on his classmates.
Bebe is one of them in the most recent episode and another when he had to go to Hawaii for his "Culture."
TV Show • 2014 Report
Yes
12
No
0
0
kars4kids
The whole plot
TV Show • 2016 Report
Yes
10
No
0
2
SiRenfield
Billy
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
9
No
0
1
KamiSteele
It's a major theme of the movie, to the point where one potential interpretation of the title refers to the 'hereditary' nature of dysfunctional families. The film plays heavily into the specific trigger of becoming like your abusers.
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
9
No
2
0
KamiSteele
It's hard to explain without outright giving away the ending, but the gaslighting, love-bombing, drugging, and trauma ultimately culminate in Dani doing a villainous act as the climax and joining the antagonists as one of them. The script directions for the ending imply that she is 'happy,' but only in the sense she has lost her mind.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
9
No
1
0
solace
yeah this is a show about serial killers. but specifically in 10x8 a victim of pedophilia is revealed to be a pedophile himself
TV Show • 2020 Report
Yes
8
No
1
2
R0botanical23
SPOILERS: This is a recurring theme of the show.
Notably, we learn than Jamie was/is verbally, emotionally, and physically abused by his father and goes on to abuse others. Nate also is abused by others in season one, and then uses his new position of power to abuse others in season 2.
TV Show • 2008 Report
Yes
8
No
1
2
Pantalones
The two brother assasins are shown being abused by their uncle Hector when they were kids. One of them is nearly drowned. The brothers eventually grow to become cartel hitmen. It can be argued Walter was treated like crap and belittled by his old boss Bogdan, and later returns the abuse by taking his business and his framed dollar bill.
Movie Report
Yes
7
No
0
1
Abee
A previously abused and marginalized character takes control of others and abuses her power
TV Show • 2020 Report
Yes
7
No
0
1
Rafe gets mentally abused by his dad then abuses many others
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
7
No
0
TV Show Report
Yes
6
No
0
3
DeenGray
Clay, an abusive dad, was abused by his own dad when he was little
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
6
No
3
1
saste12
(Minor spoilers) Victims of the curse are forced to traumatize other people in a similar way, not of their own will but there's an undercurrent of suicide being traumatic to other people.
Anime • 2016 Report
Yes
6
No
0
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
6
No
0
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
6
No
1
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
5
No
0
2
Lapis is shown being drawn towards an abusive dynamic with Jasper in which Lapis can subjugate Jasper. She resists it in the end, but the idea of "abused becoming the abuser" seems to be presented uncritically by the show. There are other points where this theme shows up in her dialogue too.
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
5
No
0
0
Pantalones
A woman who was abused by men turns into a serial killer and murders men.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
5
No
0
1
nh17
Azula
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
5
No
0
2
cherreyes
There is a mutually abusive parent child relationship where one eventually overpowers the other and goes on to hurt and kill others too
TV Show • 2022 Report
Yes
5
No
0
1
The whole premise of the show is a victim trying to get revenge and goes to high lengths
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
5
No
1
2
Henry because of his Father
Movie • 2010 Report
Yes
5
No
0
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
4
No
0
1
wallflowers
Merle, who was abused by his father, is abusive towards Daryl, his brother
TV Show • 2018 Report
Yes
4
No
0
0
cherry
it’s heavily implied that logan was abused as a child, and he abuses his children and grandchildren
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
4
No
0
0
foresthillcemetery
[SPOILER WARNING]
the child abductor implies that he abducted children because he was hurt when he was a little boy, and one of the people terrorizing the family does so because he was hurt as a little boy as well.
TV Show Report
Yes
4
No
0
1
cha0ticnewtsys
The main villain has flashbacks to his father abusing him and his mother which is implied to be the reason he kills people
Video Game Report
Yes
4
No
0
2
fandomsandmusicals
Saionji was a target of abuse in childhood due to her performing career, and in-game bullies other characters, particularly Tsumiki.