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The words psychopath and sociopath are often thrown around arbitrarily. They are regularly used in a way that would suggest them to be the same. In fact, these words aren’t even scientific. Doctors don’t diagnose people as being psychopaths or sociopaths. Instead, they would more likely diagnose someone as having a host of conditions, which we then tend to sum up.
Psychopaths and sociopaths do generally have a lot of similar characteristics, one of them being that both tend to have a warped sense of what’s right and wrong. On the other hand, there are a lot of differences. To discover them, click through this gallery.
A psychopath doesn’t have moral qualms about the way that they harm other people, even if they appear to on the surface.
A sociopath will generally have a conscience and would feel bad about stealing money, for example, but will generally do it anyway.
The similarity, in this case, is that both lack empathy. Both will steal your money. The sociopath might feel bad about it, but will likely not have the empathy to deter them from doing it.
Sociopaths are pretty clear that they don’t care about other members of society, whereas psychopaths will try their best to follow social conventions to “fit in.”
Despite psychopaths trying their best to fit in, they will still display cold-hearted behavior. The textbook psychopath will tend to not even recognize other people’s distress, even when they’re causing it. A sociopath will notice it, but won’t care enough not to put themselves first.
This is because the textbook sociopath is typically a master at rationalizing their own wrongdoings. The psychopath doesn’t have to, because they won’t recognize them in the first place.
Sociopaths are prone to fits of anger and rage and find it difficult to maintain their work and family life.
Psychopaths will have relationships and don’t have significant problems at work (they are masters of disguise). They will be able to maintain relationships, but they will generally be shallow.
Despite what we may think, psychopaths can grow fond of other people, but may show it oddly.
Willem H.J. Martens argues in his infamous article, ‘The Hidden Suffering of the Psychopath,’ that psychopaths experience a lot of emotional pain, suffering from loneliness, and want to be loved like everyone else.
Violence is not inherent to psychopaths. However, psychopaths will tend to go to extreme lengths to get what they want, and that's where violence comes in.
The common categorization that sociopaths are made and psychopaths are born is an oversimplification. However, it’s understood that psychopathy is only partly genetic.
A psychopath’s brain will be different in the sense that the areas that control emotional regulation will be underdeveloped, which isn’t typically true for sociopaths.
Although science has proven that psychopathy is a biological phenomenon, it cannot be removed from the context of the society a person lives in.
For example, if a psychopath operates in social circles that promote equality, they will do their best to adhere to the values of the group to fit in by treating people fairly.
It’s been proven that psychopaths tend to come from an unstable family and/or a community that was prone to violence.
Another big risk factor is when parents are substance abusers or fail to provide sufficient care and attention.
Sociopaths tend to “give up” their antisocial behavior later in life and become able to forge strong and lasting relationships.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies both of these (psychopaths and sociopaths) as antisocial personality disorders.
To be diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder, people must attain self-esteem from power, personal gain, or pleasure, be self-centered, and set goals based on personal gratification with little regard to law or ethics.
The DSM says that people with antisocial personality disorder will tend to disregard commitments and agreements.
This sort of deal-breaking behavior extends into all areas of their lives, including finances.
They will have difficulty making plans, believing that they can nimbly navigate any problem as it arrives.
They may be in fights or involved in assaults often. They will often lie to gain a social advantage (like telling people you’re a war hero when you’ve never served).
The rate of antisocial personality disorder in the general public is estimated to be between 0.2% and 3.3%.
Sources: (International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology)(Verywell Mind) (Biological Psychiatry)
See also: Early warning signs that your child might be dangerous
The differences between psychopaths and sociopaths
See how psychopaths and sociopaths are not the same!
HEALTH Psychology
The words psychopath and sociopath are often thrown around arbitrarily. They are regularly used in a way that would suggest them to be the same. In fact, these words aren’t even scientific. Doctors don’t diagnose people as being psychopaths or sociopaths. Instead, they would more likely diagnose someone as having a host of conditions, which we then tend to sum up.
Psychopaths and sociopaths do generally have a lot of similar characteristics, one of them being that both tend to have a warped sense of what’s right and wrong. On the other hand, there are a lot of differences. To discover them, click through this gallery.