Yes, it's not universal, I had an "or" section or 3-4 things, but there are more as well:

They want attention, or they want to cause suffering because they suffer, or they want to avoid being a victim by being an abuser, or they want to have power over others, etc.

Not all are perpetuating abuse they suffered. Many are very confident, and like power over others. They don't need to have been bullied as they do to others. Become the dominant one and other assume the submissive position that permits. So dominant minds overbear on those who let them do what they do. That is a way to climb up in society and "success" hehe, by climbing over others in a dichotomous relation of dominator-submissive. That's one aspect. I'm not sure if that's what the articles were talking about, but I wanted to give my take on it ;) Thanks for the feedback.