Is there any frank account on why this was considered important in the beginning? Once it starts I imagine the tendency to pass on abuse would keep it going re

Is there any frank account on why this was considered important in the beginning? Once it starts I imagine the tendency to pass on abuse would keep it going regardless. Hazing does have rational roots in that people value things they struggle for more highly than things they are given. And lack of empathy can be a beneficial trait in a leader, both for the leader and the lead, as long as it isn't paired with cruelty and narcissism... Narcissists are inherently easy to manipulate, and make bad leaders because they don't often defer to experts when making decisions, even when they picked them. Cruelty is a poor substitute for rational detachment when being forced to make hard decisions.