Raskolnikov's Character

To say the least, Raskolnikov is a proud man. He is described as being "tall, dark, and handsome," cliche in its wording, but it gives the readers a good mental image of the character. His classic good looks, and physical features most likely aid in pumping up his ego and pride. He is bold, sardonic, arrogant, and quite cavalier, as well- all qualities that showcase his pride and contentedness with himself. He also seems to be emotionally detached from the rest of society, and appears to be isolated from humanity.  It appears that Raskolnikov deems himself superior to all else, which makes it difficult for him to relate to other people. His pride leads him to view other people as inferior to himself, and his lack of human contact leads him to inhuman thoughts. When we are first introduced to him, it is evident right away that he is the protagonist of this story, but one does not get a good feeling about his character. The first chapter revolves around him thinking up awful plans and deciding whether to take action on those plans or not. What I would like to know is what made him this way. What could have happened in his life that helped develop these feelings towards other people? Why is he so troubled by his own thoughts? There must be something seriously wrong with him, to think the way he does and then be repulsed by his own thoughts, only to continuously return to them later on.