Because we can

I am now reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King. He writes real neat stories sure but I think what I really love about his stories is the way he gives an insiders view into people, communities, small towns etc. While in "Salem's Lot" and I think the "The Mist" he showed how small towns, where supposedly everyone knows everyone and there is greater neighborly relationships than in cities, things go  wrong because the people there are really too small minded and inward looking than in large towns or cities where people have greater exposure to life. Anyway in this book that I AM READING  there is this line 

"In both the fading grin and growing hurt in his eyes she saw how he loved her, and knew this increased her power to hurt him. Still, she would cut. And why? Because she could"

Are we all not like that? Why do we strike the child when we are angry and not the husband when we are angry with him, because we can, with the child and we cannot, with the husband. One is weak and other strong. No matter what we think of ourselves, we are not much better than beasts and bullies because we use our power and strength against those weaker than us but will bow and scrape before those stronger than us.