Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-34225720-20180120154646/@comment-25375217-20180120175524

That would really undermine the effect of Sympathy for the De Vil, in my opinion.

To be honest, though, blaming it on psychopathy might have the same problem. You're right -- evil is made, not born. I think the intention is that Cruella, in her own right mind and without prompting, made the decision to be evil. To say she was mentally ill or abused would take away what makes her special: she has no goal except to enjoy herself.