House grew up with an abusive parent and his reaction to that was clearly one of defiance: he will always flout authority, break rules, be late, be defiant. He hates 'weakness', which we see in his own internalized (and often externalized) ableism: while he's transparently clingy in some ways, he also resists that label, hates asking for or needing help, rejects any perceived "pity" (and tends to assume most compassion is pity, see, Cameron), and time and time again denies any desire for friendship, connection, etc. House's whole life is about not needing anyone, not listening to anyone, being unaffected and unhurt and uncaring. He is defiant. He does not need.
Chase grew up with abusive parents, and his reaction was the opposite. He seeks approval, openly looks for validation. He is transparently insecure and needy; he sucks up to authority and to anyone he likes (see how quickly he starts kissing Cameron's ass in S3). He's fairly shameless about it, and spends most of his time looking for approval and connection: his sleeping around, we are told, is explicitly this. So is his ass kissing. Chase needs, and openly. He doesn't deny it: he attaches himself pretty quickly to people, he is obedient, he does what he's told even when he does not want to, because what matters is less his desires and more winning approval.
They're the two characters with explicitly abusive parents, and it's fascinating how they took completely different lessons from their fathers: House by defining himself around if I can prove I do not care I will not be hurt, and Chase by going if I try hard enough, I'll earn love this time. Ironically, Chase in Cursed tells House his philosophy is the former ("if you don't care, no disappointments"), but even in that episode proves he doesn't mean it.
And it's fascinating as a contrast, and fascinating as a commonality. But mostly:
If you ever needed an explanation for why House lowkey cannot stand Chase in the early seasons. Boy is this it.
Because Chase took the wrong lesson. He is still seeking approval, he is needy, he is blatant. He cares, not as empathy but as a form of being liked; he needs to be liked, he needs be accepted, he would rather be House's least favorite employee than fired. He's the kicked dog, coming back for more; he is the type of person House hates and defies.
And so House repeats the cycle. He pushes Chase, he bullies him. Chase is the only one of the main trio House never tells good job, never praises, never gives a break or reaches out to as he does Cameron and Foreman, repeatedly. Chase keeps trying harder to win House's approval, and House blames him for every potential mistake. Cameron often agrees with House, has far more faith in his abilities than Chase, but Chase is the one House mocks as a lapdog, as an ass kisser. He should know better. He's the pathetic one. And he's the one House punches.
So yeah. Chase is House's son. Because House, unknowingly, unwittingly, even unwillingly, treats him just he was treated. As someone who needs to be corrected. As someone pathetic, and weak, and needy, and wrong.
No, House doesn't literally abuse Chase. There's no ice baths, or neglect, or being locked in a room for days at a time. But you have to wonder. What was House like before he become defiant, before he stopped trying? What does it say that when Chase stops, when Chase (in S8) becomes distant and angry and blames House for ruining his life, that this is when House begins to treat Chase like someone who matters?
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