This story made me see Kryptonian psychology in a different perspective. I kind of formulated a theory on how it works.

Non-human and far more rigid than human psychology. Operating on levels, as opposed to gradients. Imprinting on a set of norms and rules very early in life, and not quite as adaptable in relation to changes of them as human psychology.

This actually fits into the pre-crisis portrayal of superman as having had his powers since he was a baby but demonstrating inhuman restraint.