Aging removes the buffers that once kept cruelty contained.

🧠 Neurological factors

• Reduced prefrontal flexibility
• Lower dopamine baseline
• Less emotional novelty available
• Increased fear of loss (status, health, control)

Cruelty becomes a compensatory strategy.

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🔁 Behavioural consequences

As aging progresses:

• patience decreases
• tolerance for autonomy in others shrinks
• control behaviours intensify
• bitterness and rigidity increase

If cruelty was already present:
➡️ aging often amplifies it.

This is why late-life escalation is common in long-term abusive dynamics.