This was a survival tactic ; I did n't feel pain each and every time people acted according to their own nature . You could say I became cynical , as I did . I always expected the worst . Over time , I changed these views . I prepared for the worst , but hoped for the best , and when the worst came around , I tried to deal with it to the best of my ability .
According to the above context, answer the following question.
What may be the reason they expected the worst ?


They were used to having bad things happen to them .