When someone is bullied growing up their entire way of viewing others can put them in a very challenged state when it comes to their narcissism which everyone has and it's part of everyone. It's a spectrum of one's personal sense of self esteem and self confidence that develops over many years. So repeated injuries to ones sense of narcissim/self esteem/sense of self worth can most definitely lead to life long challenges and deep wounds and even a fragile sense of self with a constant desire to overcome that challenge. Therefore, those who tend to sit on the spectrum considered being more narcissistic tend to look for ways they can gain a sense of power and control over others, to be able to stand out more and have their very fragile ego fed. They tend to look for ways to convince others to admire them and give into their need for control. And the higher on that spectrum, the more that individual tends to do everything possible to repair their hungry ego and most things tend to revolve around them and their own needs. So they lose the ability to empathize and care for others, but learn they must at least pretend they do as it brings others to them. Some begin to even decide they have special powers as it gives them a high that can help them feel they are "more than" and "special" in some way. So if they believe they are "special" they have even more right to judge others and decide whatever they feel is right is right and anyone that disagrees with them is wrong and undeserving or a bad person in someway. The world revolves around them, they never got away from that state and often they see this as normal. Not everyone reaches this level on the spectrum, some have traits but are not considered totally NPD. Often with age these individuals soften and can begin to recognize the feelings of others more. Yet for some, they might get disenchanted and disillusioned and angry not willing to let go of that desire to claim power and control or the deep need for revenge in order to reclaim whatever had hurt them so many years ago.