Why do some people like to be mean?

It may be because of emotional baggage, the desire to assert control or independence, to test boundaries, or simply, because people may just expect a lot from the other. Some may have a fear of intimacy, due to cultural upbringing, or because of living through traumatic or abusive relationships. Some people like the negative attention they receive while being mean towards others. Sometimes, in the absence of any available positive attention, negative attention acts as a stand-in for the attention that the person needs. Key points. People high in psychopathy may be mean, but not all mean people are psychopaths.