: Dynamic characterization: How do you show development/change in an inherently flawed character, like a psychopath? I got an idea for a short story recently following a traumatized boy who has

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If the character is drawn starkly enough, even very small changes can be very noticeable. The best example I know of is in Nabokov's Lolita. The narrator is an unrepentant molester, who is basically wholly focused on his own wants and needs. Late in the novel, he gains what amounts to a single moment of clarity where he senses, no matter how dimly, that what he has done is wrong. It's a significant moment because of how completely selfish he has been up to that moment.

You might also compare the main character in Remains of the Day. Although not at all sociopathic, he is very emotionally constrained. On the surface, not much happens in his life, but the writer gradually helps you understand that he has strong emotional attachments of which even he himself is unaware.

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Yes, brilliant and realistic idea. Trauma, especially in childhood, has severe effects that last well into adult hood.

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Diagnose your character. "antisocial tendencies and lack of empathy"
is very broad and a condition is rarely this simple. For example,
repeated childhood abuse from which fight/flight is not possible,
can manifest in a freeze response. Making the patient unable to
respond with empathy, or in fact respond at all. Not because they don't want to, but because of lack of empathy but because they have emotionally shut down. Understanding the root of the problem makes it easier to imagine what changes would realistically occur.
Research. As hard as it is, research childhood trauma and PTSD.
Show the change. "starting to care about someone" is a bit much, often if
victims have shutdown to that extent then results are painful and slow. what about something more subtle, for example, they hit someone. Whilst this might not seem like "caring", it is a response.
Another alternative would be to apologize, again, not cliche or
obvious, but a small sign of change. Another alternative would be
interaction with an object or animal, do they feed a cat where before
they would kick it? What about answering a phone that they would normally ignore?
Check spelling and grammar. Incorrect spelling and grammar can detract from what could be a very powerful story, so get help in this area.
Conclude the change. Where does their journey end? Obviously
"completely normal" is a stretch, but do they end up being able to keep
a dog?

Note: There is a lot of interesting insights here in the heart wrenching blog "How to Live on Earth When You Were Raised in Hell", (which incidentally would be an awesome title for a novel or short story...). Also interesting psychological insight into "polyvagal theory" where if there is no option to run/fight then your brain shuts down.

Trauma survivors blog

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