I know from my own personal experience. I was bullied in middle school and high school and went through my fair share of hard times thereafter. Also one of my really good friends committed suicide when I was in high school.
I mean I'm pretty good in real life but sometimes people seem surprised...
It evolved from my experience in the fifties growing up during the McCarthy...
I was in three academic clubs a huge book worm and the teacher's pet. I was kind of an easy target for bullies.