@stellabelle I think that's an incorrect insight, but still insightful. There have been many, many experiments that prove that people conform to expectations. Stanford prison experiment and also several involving what could be lethal electric shocks.
It has to my mind, more to do with not feeling any connection to those being harmed. You're not connected, you don't feel their pain therefore your normal self censure is not enough to hold back the impulse to do as you will.
Furthermore psychopaths and sociopaths are literally off the charts in terms of self love and intelligence. Empathy is what they lack
The better question then might be, if you think this place is filling up with those sorts of people, why are they being attracted to this place and how can we incentivize the "right kind" of folks to come here.