In Divergent the reader learns that Eric, the lead instructor at the training camp, is cruel and viscious. We also learn that the position was offered to Four, but that he turned it down. This suggests that Eric is purposely cruel and rough on the new recruits just to goad Four into doing something against him. Christina is beaten badly when she has to fight Molly and because she concedes the match, Eric makes her hang over a dangerous chasm for five minutes to prove that she's not a coward.
