This is a downward spiral. One commits overt acts unwittingly. He then seeks to justify them by finding fault or displacing blame. This leads him into further overts against the same people which leads to degradation of himself and sometimes those people. Society is set up to punish most transgressions in one way or another.
Punishment is just another worsening of the overt sequence and degrades the punisher.
But people who are guilty of overts demand punishment. It is the victim who demands punishment and it is a wrongheaded society that awards it. People get right down and beg to be executed. And when you don't oblige, the woman scorned is sweet tempered by comparison. When you hear scathing and brutal criticism of someone which sounds just a bit strained, know that you have your eye on overts against that criticized person.