They say that it is within the family that we learn the art of how we relate to society at large.
Well now, from the perspective of a very young child mum and dad represent source of nurture and support (and chastisement if you displease) so you learn to be very nice to them. Until you enter your teens and are growing confident in your emerging adult strength; in which case you dispense with innocence and become a pain in the butt in order to tell mum and dad to bugger off. Meantime, as small child you learn to be spiteful, nasty to your brother and sister for your sibling represents competition for the attention of mum and dad which you would ideally want to monopolize all tom yourself.
In summary, by the time you have grown into adulthood you have learned through your formative years as the member of a nuclear family the importance of sucking up to the boss whilst doing down a co-worker whom you know is angling for the promotion or some other benefit that you want yourself.
