Madness (in particular trauma-related conditions) is a MASSIVE theme in Batman: the big reason Batman has his no-kill rule is that he doesn't trust himself to make a fair decision about when lethal force is necessary, because every time he looks into a mugger's face he sees Joe Chill.
The difference between Batman and his enemies is that he responded in a far more constructive way to his trauma. Contrast him with, say, Cobblepot, who's reaction to being the black sheep of his wealthy family was to become a mob boss so that he could show them up, or Fries, who is the poster boy for "never being able to let go, ever".