Game of Thrones is unironically the watered down family friendly version of what the bourgeoise do in real life.

I've tried to understand why they have such an obsession with abusing children. What possible reason could they have? Like why is it all these rich and powerful people all have this thing with hurting kids?

Then you start to think, what kind of person has power in such a cruel, capitalist society? The kind that has to be used to causing abuse. So like some sort of weird pissing contest, these guys all flaunt just how good they are at abusing. "I own everything. I can do anything I want. I have no morals you can use against me that will stop me from 'winning'." Abusing the most vulnerable people, children, is like a declaration of "There is no line I wouldn't cross for power."

Empathy is a weakness that they see as something that will keep them from success. If you show emapthy, you can't do the terrible shitty things that are required to be on top. This is all one big competition to them, even against each other.

"You see Mr. Gitts, most people never have to face the fact that in the right time, in the right place, they're capable of anything"