Now this is an interesting topic that i don't think gets enough attention. A guy might want to become a PUA for many reasons; but two pop up in my mind instantly..
1) to better themselves socailly, mentally, physically etc (which is healthy)
2) to get validation from women (which is not healthy)
Chances are a PUA will be thinking a combination of both reasons.. i know i do. It is curious to think that this way of thinking is probably a deeper rooted problem that started much earlier in life.
It is a pretty well known fact that the traits of the parents are rubbed off to their children, and the behavious which the children were subjected too during their early life will pretty much define the individuals personallity. This is not always the case, but in general if the parents have low ambitions, little or no education, living off government handouts etc.. the child will more than likely end up the same because there is no drive to succeed.
Same goes with other traits such as: social acceptance, openess to others, succeptability to opinion..etc.
For example: my parents are the polar opposite of eachother, my mother is more or less a "hippy", and my father is an engineer.. so from my mother, i was always brought up with a very natural surroundings, openess and encouraged to express myself; my father tought me the value of money to respect it, learned hard work, ambition and leadership..
I had a very confusing childhood.. peace and love on one hand; and blood, sweat and tears or the other.. lol!
It also goes the same with your second statement.. If people can get a fear of water - from a near death expirience involving something like swimming, then of course you can have a fear of the opposite sex because of an early expirience.. could be anything, but most likely a rejection.. which plants the seeds for AA, over years of neglecting to try beat it - it grows firm into your mind.. You begin to tell yourself you can't talk to her, she way out of your leauge.. bla bla.. its all just a problem with yourself.. we've all had it.
I guess what i'm trying to say with all this; is that you are right.. a shakey upbringing (especially where sex / relaionships arn't talked about), or a bad expirience early on can be root causes why we go into this PUA, this may not apply to everyone - but i'm pretty sure it will..
Look at Adam Lyons for example.. when he was in school - he was actually voted: "guy least likely to get a girlfriend".. look at him now, slept with literally hundreds of women, and just married a model..
Now, i really want to see where his class mates ended up..

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