Ostensibly, school exists to teach you skills and knowledge. However, the way in which educational content is presented usually prioritizes a subtext of submitting to authority.

For example:

• You are encouraged prioritize studying over other activities, e.g., sleeping or eating, even though this is bad for your health.
• Homework necessarily takes time away from activities that may contribute to your wellbeing, and often does not contribute to your understanding of a subject.
• You are supposed to be investing in your future, but your future success is continually threatened if you don’t complete arbitrary homework tasks by arbitrary deadlines. Further, there is rarely forgiveness for missing a deadline or misunderstanding a task.
• Asking friends to help, which is normal and healthy in every other human context, is usually considered “cheating.”
• You are constantly being treated as if you are already at fault for something, even if you are honestly trying to follow the rules.
• If you complain or ask for help, you are considered “a problem” rather than a real human being who is experiencing distress, or needs help.
• You are expected to grovel and apologize when you do not conform to policies, expectations, and guidelines, or you may be punished.

If you have made it through an undergraduate degree, your expectations for being treated with respect will be very low. Further, you expect graduate school to be harder than undergrad. Then, when you get to grad school, if you are treated with even less respect, it may seem appropriate because it is emotionally more difficult than undergrad. This is the foundation of why you are susceptible to abuse.