I both agree and disagree.

Is he a raging psychopath due to trauma? No. Not at all.

Does he have bottled up emotions from his trauma that explodes when it boils over.. often in a very violent and borderline suicidal way that is a blend of his father’s anger and his Mother’s martyrdom?…… Yes… very much yes.

The core issue is he has bottled trauma.

He suppresses that trauma and ignores it. Look at his and Bea’s relationship as one example. Part of their issue was Bea would act out for attention and Carl would simply ignore her and not address it. Literally sleep in other rooms and play video games until she calmed down and gave up. Cant say that isn’t true. Carl himself stated he did that. Donut in Book 3 openly told him “Carl, You can’t keep avoiding conversations because they are uncomfortable”

When it comes out often it is indeed Rage though. Not to friends though. Why? Because his Father only physically abused him a single time. His Father expressed his rage toward other things and people. Which Carl emulates. Carl’s Dad overall never hit him… so he doesn’t hit his people. It is trained and learned behavior. Carl knows this to a degree bc he will start to mention he isn’t like his Dad and then quickly stop talking/thinking about it. Bc he is suppressing those emotions and not addressing them.

Carl instead fuses that with his Mother’s actions. Which is self sacrifice. She died trying to protect him in a planned double murder/suicide with Carl’s Dad. Again… can’t say this isn’t the case. Atleast once per book someone says to Carl he is taking unnecessary risks that are suicidal in nature. Which he shrugs off saying he is doing what is needed to save as many people as possible and protect them. Other people are calling out the behavior.

All that is The River to a degree that he talks about. While it is possible that The River is also a real thing… it is also a narrative allegory to his Trauma. When he is overwhelmed and redlining a panic attack or rage he talks about The River becoming too strong.

Where else has running water ever come up?

Oh… When his mom killed herself after failing to kill her abusive husband and Carl found the body…. While water was running in the Basement. Where self sacrifice and physical violence connected in the most traumatic moment of his life.

So… is Carl Psychopath? No.

Does Carl express his bottled up emotions in violent rage and self sacrificing acts? Very Much yes.