there is well documented and researched reasons behind it.
People are rarely just “born” wrong. People may have genetic predispositions towards pyschopathy, sociopathy or any other personality disorder. But childhood trauma is the “trigger” that makes it manifest.
childhood trauma doesn’t have to be abuse, or neglect either. The most privileged households in the world can feature trauma. (Look at Princess Diana). Being a helicopter parent can be traumatic. In can rob a child of their sense of self. It is a form of control in its most insidious form. The Krays were supposedly narcissists because their mother smothered them.
we like to tell ourselves that people like Lucy Letby are the exception. But she isn’t. The circumstances in which she put herself are exceptional, but her lack of empathy is not.
I worked in the criminal justice system and, in theory, there are more psychopaths, sociopaths etc present because they are individuals more inclined towards antisocial and criminal behaviour. There are a LOT of psychopaths out there. They have good jobs, they look outwardly very normal. Some are exceptionally charming and pleasant to be around. Scratch the surface though, and you see the reality behind the facade they build. And when you become attuned to them, you realise in society it’s not at all a rare occurance. Childhood trauma is abundant. Id say it’s likely to be an undiagnosed epidemic, because these individuals are the least likely to seek medical help or diagnosis.
it frustrates me when people shrug it off as an exceptional occurance, as if it’s something we have no agency over. It’s not rare, and it can be prevented. It can absolutely be prevented.
it can be prevented through better education, support and awareness spread through society. Maybe it should be sort of school curriculums. Maybe it should feature in prenatal classes.
it can be prevented through robust social welfare. Good provisions for women escaping abusive homes with their children. More strenuous protection and rigid laws safeguarding children. By being open minded and progressive as a society (it’s been theorised that one of the reasons Ian Brady turned out the way he did, began when his mother left him as a baby. She couldn’t care for him because she was an underpaid single mother, and because of the stigma attached. Young babies and children who are separated from their mothers at a young age, suffer hugely from that. It’s hugely traumatic for them. Had she been given a living wage and if there had been less judgement in society… the moors murders might never have happened.)
it can be prevented by making sure children get access to basic healthcare, education and food. If anyone believes society shouldn’t be providing free meals for kids… well I have some bad news for you. If you think it’s expensive providing free meals to children, then you don’t want to know how expensive it is to take these kids through NHS and mental health facilities when they are older. How expensive it is when they become reliant on welfare because they aren’t fully functioning adults. How expensive it is for them to be taken through the criminal justice system. Trust me, school meals for kids is an investment in society.
i didn’t have my first serious boyfriend until i was 25 and i too am hopefully not a psychopath. hopefully. LL also seemed to have a lot of close friends, including one who sat next to her parents in court on friday and another who chose her to be godmother to her child. so she certainly was able to have close relationships even if they weren’t romantic. 
